SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, as Issuer AND WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee INDENTURE Dated as of December 18, 2003 Providing for Issuance of
Exhibit 4.4
Execution Copy
SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,
as Issuer
AND
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of December 18, 2003
Providing for Issuance of
8½% Senior Notes due 2013
Table of Contents
i
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
ii
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
iii
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
iv
INDENTURE dated as of December 18, 2003, between SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a Bermuda exempted company (the “Company”), and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware banking corporation (the “Trustee”) as Trustee.
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of (i) the Company’s 8½% Senior Notes due 2013, issued on the date hereof (the “Initial Securities”), (ii) if and when issued, an unlimited principal amount of additional 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 in a non-registered offering or 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 in a registered offering of the Company that may be offered from time to time subsequent to the Issue Date (the “Additional Securities”) and (iii) if and when issued, the Company’s 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 that may be issued from time to time in exchange for Initial Securities or any Additional Securities in an offer registered under the Securities Act as provided in a Registration Rights Agreement (as hereinafter defined the “Exchange Securities,” and together with the Initial Securities and Additional Securities, the “Securities”).
ARTICLE
I
Definitions
and Incorporation by Reference
Section 1.1 Definitions.
“Additional Assets” means:
(1) any property or assets (other than Indebtedness and Capital Stock) used or useful by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a Related Business, including, without limitation, a hull under construction or rights under a Vessel Construction Contract, any installment payment under a Vessel Construction Contract, and any repairs, improvements, additions, enhancements, drydocking or capital improvement of any vessel;
(2) the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or
(3) Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3), such Restricted Subsidiary is primarily engaged in a Related Business.
“Additional Securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in the second introductory paragraph of this Indenture.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms
“controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For purposes of the foregoing, Knightsbridge Tankers Limited shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Frontline.
“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to a Security at any Redemption Date, the greater of (i) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Security and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such time of (1) the redemption price of such Security at December 15, 2008 (such redemption price as set forth in Section 5.1) plus (2) all required interest payments due on such Security through December 15, 2008, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of such Security.
“Asset Disposition” means any direct or indirect sale, lease (other than a charter or an operating lease entered into in the ordinary course of business), transfer, issuance or other disposition (including by way of a Total Loss), or a series of related sales, leases, transfers, issuances or dispositions that are part of a common plan, of shares of Capital Stock of a Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares), property or other assets (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a “disposition”) by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction.
Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Dispositions:
(1) a disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;
(2) the sale of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;
(3) a disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(4) a disposition of obsolete, scrap or worn out assets that are no longer useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and that is disposed of in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(5) transactions permitted under Section 4.1;
(6) an issuance of Capital Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;
(7) for purposes of Section 3.7 only, the making of a Permitted Investment or a disposition subject to Section 3.4;
(8) dispositions of assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value in any calendar year of less than $5.0 million;
(9) dispositions in connection with Liens permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;
2
(10) the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles and licenses, leases or subleases of other property in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(11) foreclosure on assets; and
(12) Asset Swaps.
“Asset Swap” means concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash received must be applied in accordance with Section 3.7.
“Attributable Indebtedness” in respect of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in such transaction determined in accordance with GAAP) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended).
“Available Surplus Cash” means, for any quarter, all cash and Cash Equivalents on hand at the end of that quarter, less the amount of any cash reserves necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors to (a) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including reserves for anticipated future credit needs and future capital expenditures, after that quarter, or (b) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which the company is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or to which its assets are subject.
“Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the numbers of years from the date of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment by (2) the sum of all such payments.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Code or any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law of Bermuda or any other foreign jurisdiction or any similar Federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of a Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participation or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.
3
“Capitalized Lease Obligations” means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capitalized lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation will be the capitalized amount of such obligation at the time any determination thereof is to be made as determined in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof will be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date such lease may be terminated without penalty.
“Cash Equivalents” means:
(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States Government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof), having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;
(2) marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition and, at the time of acquisition, having a credit rating of “A” or better from either S&P or Xxxxx’x;
(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits, euro dollar time deposits, overnight bank deposits or bankers’ acceptances having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued by any bank or financial institution the long-term debt of which is rated at the time of acquisition thereof at least “A” or the equivalent thereof by S&P, or “A” or the equivalent thereof by Xxxxx’x, and having combined capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million;
(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;
(5) commercial paper rated at the time of acquisition thereof at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof by S&P or “P-2” or the equivalent thereof by Xxxxx’x, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized Rating Agency, if both of the two named Rating Agencies cease publishing ratings of investments, and in any case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition thereof; and
(6) interests in any investment company or money market fund which invests primarily in instruments of the type specified in clauses (1) through (5) above.
“Change of Control” means:
(1) any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that such person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of
4
the Voting Stock of the Company (or its successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its assets) (for the purposes of this clause, such person or group shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of the Company held by a parent entity, if such person or group “beneficially owns” (as defined above), directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity); or
(2) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors (but not committees thereof) of the Company are not Continuing Directors; or
(3) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act); or
(4) the adoption by the stockholders of the Company of a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
“Charter Ancillary Agreement” means the Charter Ancillary Agreement to be entered into pursuant to the Fleet Purchase Agreement between the Company, the Charterer and others, as such agreement shall be amended from time to time.
“Charterer” means Frontline Shipping Limited, a Bermuda exempted company and wholly owned subsidiary of Frontline, and its successors.
“Charters” means the Charters contemplated by the Fleet Purchase Agreement.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Common Stock” means with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interest or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or nonvoting) of such Person’s common stock whether or not outstanding on the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.
“Consolidated Cash Flow” for any period means, without duplication, the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period, plus the portion of lease payments allocated as a reduction in the net investment in capital leases in accordance with GAAP to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income, plus the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:
(1) Consolidated Interest Expense;
(2) Consolidated Income Taxes;
(3) consolidated depreciation expense;
(4) consolidated amortization of intangibles;
5
(5) other non-cash charges reducing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period not included in the calculation).
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, clauses (2) through (5) relating to amounts of a Restricted Subsidiary will be added to Consolidated Net Income of the Company to compute its Consolidated Cash Flow only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the net income (loss) of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating the Consolidated Net Income of the Company and, to the extent the amounts set forth in clause (1) and clauses (3) through (5) are in excess of those necessary to offset a net loss of such Restricted Subsidiary or if such Restricted Subsidiary has net income for such period included in Consolidated Net Income, only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.
“Consolidated Coverage Ratio” means as of any date of determination, with respect to any Person, the ratio of (x) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination for which financial statements are in existence to (y) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four fiscal quarters, provided, however, that:
(1) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary:
(a) has Incurred any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period that remains outstanding on such date of determination or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness, Consolidated Cash Flow and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness had been Incurred on the first day of such period (except that in making such computation, the amount of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility outstanding on the date of such calculation will be computed based on (i) the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such four fiscal quarters or such shorter period for which such facility was outstanding or (ii) if such facility was created after the end of such four fiscal quarters, the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the period from the date of creation of such facility to the date of such calculation) and the discharge of any other Indebtedness repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period; or
(b) has repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness since the beginning of the period that is no longer outstanding on such date of determination or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio involves a discharge of Indebtedness (in each case other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has
6
been permanently repaid and the related commitment terminated), Consolidated Cash Flow and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such discharge of such Indebtedness, including with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness or otherwise, as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period;
(2) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary will have made any Asset Disposition or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Asset Disposition:
(a) the Consolidated Cash Flow for such period will be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Cash Flow (if positive) attributable to the assets which are the subject of such Asset Disposition for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated Cash Flow (if negative) directly attributable thereto for such period; and
(b) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Disposition for such period (or, if the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold, the Consolidated Interest Expense for such period attributable to the Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale);
(3) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) will have made an Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into the Company) or an acquisition of assets, including any acquisition of assets occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder, which constitutes all or substantially all of an operating unit, division or line of business (or for purposes of this subsection, any Vessel), Consolidated Cash Flow and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period; and
(4) if since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period will have made any Asset Disposition or any Investment or acquisition of assets that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (2) or (3) above if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period, Consolidated Cash Flow and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Asset Disposition or Investment or acquisition of assets occurred on the first day of such period.
For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any calculation under this definition, the pro forma calculations will be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (including pro forma expense and cost reductions
7
calculated on a basis consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act). For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition or construction of a Vessel or the Capital Stock of a Vessel owning company or the financing thereof, the Company may (a) if the relevant Vessel is to be subject to a time charter with a remaining term longer than six months, apply pro forma earnings (losses) for such period for such Vessel based upon such charter, or (b) if such Vessel is not to be subject to a time charter, is under time charter that is due to expire within six months or less, or is to be subject to charter on a voyage charter basis (whether or not any such charter is in place for such Vessel), then in each case apply earnings (losses) for such period for such Vessel based upon the average of the historical earnings of comparable Vessels in the Company’s fleet (as determined in good faith by its Board of Directors) during such period or if there is no such comparable Vessel, then based upon industry average earnings for comparable Vessels (as determined in good faith by its Board of Directors). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness).
“Consolidated Income Taxes” means, with respect to for any period, taxes imposed upon the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries or other payments required to be made by any such Person by any governmental authority which taxes or other payments are calculated by reference to the income or profits any of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent such income or profits were included in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period), regardless of whether such taxes or payments are required to be remitted to any governmental authority.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the total interest expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, whether paid or accrued, plus, to the extent not included in such interest expense:
(1) interest expense attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations and the interest portion of rent expense associated with Attributable Indebtedness in respect of the relevant lease giving rise thereto, determined as if such lease were a capitalized lease in accordance with GAAP and the interest component of any deferred payment obligations;
(2) amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost;
(3) non-cash interest expense;
(4) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing;
(5) the interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(6) net costs associated with Hedging Obligations (other than under Fuel Hedging Agreements) (including amortization of fees);
8
(7) the consolidated interest expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period;
(8) the product of (a) all dividends paid or payable in cash, Cash Equivalents or Indebtedness or accrued during such period on any series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or on Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries payable to a party other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state, provincial and local statutory tax rate of the Company, expressed as a decimal, in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP; and
(9) the cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than the Company) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by such plan or trust; provided, however, that there will be excluded therefrom any such interest expense of any Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the related Indebtedness is not Guaranteed or paid by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
For purposes of this definition, total interest expense will be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Interest Rate Agreements.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:
(1) any net income (loss) of any Person if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that:
(a) subject to the limitations contained in clauses (3), (4) and (5) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (2) below); and
(b) the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) for such period will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income to the extent such loss has been funded with cash from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) any net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Company, except that:
(a) subject to the limitations contained in clauses (3), (4) and (5) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash
9
that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend (subject, in the case of a dividend to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause); and
(b) the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;
(3) any gain (loss) realized upon the sale, writedown or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of the Company or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction) and any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person in each case, not in the ordinary course of business.
(4) any extraordinary gain or loss; and
(5) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” of any Person means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the assets of such Person after eliminating intercompany items, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, including appropriate deductions for any minority interest in tangible assets of such Person’s Subsidiaries, less (without duplication) (a) the net book value of all of its licenses, patents, patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, goodwill, non-compete agreements or organizational expenses and other like intangibles, (b) unamortized Indebtedness discount and expenses, (c) all reserves for depreciation, obsolescence, depletion and amortization of its properties and (d) all other proper reserves which in accordance with GAAP should be provided in connection with the business conducted by such Person.
“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who: (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election.
“Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities with commercial banks providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing or trade letters of credit, in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced by commercial banks in whole or in part from time to time.
“Currency Agreement” means in respect of a Person any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement as to which such Person is a party or a beneficiary.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
10
“Definitive Securities” means certificated Securities.
“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event:
(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;
(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (excluding Capital Stock which is convertible or exchangeable solely at the option of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary); or
(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock thereof, in whole or in part,
in each case on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date (a) on which the Securities mature or (b) on which there are no Securities outstanding, provided that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided, further, that any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset disposition (each defined in a substantially identical manner to the corresponding definitions in this Indenture) shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is ratable or exchangeable) provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is ratable or exchangeable) pursuant to such provision prior to compliance by the Company with the provisions of this Indenture described under Section 3.9 and Section 3.7 and such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 3.4.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors and assigns, or such other depository institution hereafter appointed by the Company.
“Escrow Agent” means the Wilmington Trust Company in its capacity as Escrow Agent under the Escrow Agreement.
“Escrow Agreement” means the Escrow Agreement dated as of the date of this Indenture among the Initial Purchasers, Frontline, the Company, the Trustee and the Escrow Agent.
“Escrow Funds” has the meaning set forth in the Escrow Agreement.
“Escrow Release” means the release of the Escrow Funds held under the Escrow Agreement to the Company pursuant to Section 5(a) thereof.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
11
“Exchange Offer” has the meaning set forth in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement.
“Exchange Securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in the second introductory paragraph of this Indenture.
“Fleet Purchase Agreement” means the Fleet Purchase Agreement dated as of December 11, 2003 between Frontline and the Company.
“Fleet Purchase Completion” means the satisfaction of the conditions specified in clauses (1) through (7) of Annex A to the Escrow Agreement, which shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee.
“Frontline” means Frontline Ltd., an exempted Bermuda company, and its successors.
“Frontline Management” means Frontline Management (Bermuda) Limited, a Bermuda exempted company and wholly owned subsidiary of Frontline.
“Fuel Hedging Agreements” means any spot, forward or option fuel price protection agreements and other types of fuel hedging agreements designed to protect against or manage exposure to fluctuations in fuel prices.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect as of the date of this Indenture, including those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture will be computed in conformity with GAAP.
“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:
(1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or
(2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has the corresponding meaning.
“Guarantor Subordinated Obligation” means, with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or
12
thereafter Incurred) which is expressly subordinate in right of payment to the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to a written agreement.
“Hedging Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or Fuel Hedging Agreement.
“Incur” means issue, create, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; and the terms “Incurring,” “Incurred” and “Incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):
(1) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;
(2) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;
(3) the principal component of all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (including reimbursement obligations with respect thereto except to the extent such reimbursement obligation relates to a trade payable and such obligation is satisfied within 30 days of Incurrence);
(4) the principal component of all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property (except trade payables), which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery and title thereto;
(5) Capitalized Lease Obligations and all Attributable Indebtedness of such Person;
(6) the principal component or liquidation preference of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);
(7) the principal component of all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons;
(8) the principal component of Indebtedness of other Persons to the extent Guaranteed by such Person; and
13
(9) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, net obligations of such Person under Currency Agreements, Fuel Hedging Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the termination value of such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at such time).
The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date will be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date.
In addition, “Indebtedness” of any Person shall include Indebtedness described in the preceding paragraph that would not appear as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person if:
(1) such Indebtedness is the obligation of a Joint Venture;
(2) such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner of the Joint Venture (a “General Partner”); and
(3) there is recourse, by contract or operation of law, with respect to the payment of such Indebtedness to property or assets of such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; and then such Indebtedness shall be included in an amount not to exceed:
(a) the lesser of (x) the net assets of the General Partner and (y) the amount of such obligations to the extent that there is recourse, by contract or operation of law, to the property or assets of such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; or
(b) if less than the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) immediately above, the actual amount of such Indebtedness that is recourse to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, if the Indebtedness is evidenced by a writing and is for a determinable amount and the related interest expense shall be included in Consolidated Interest Expense to the extent actually paid by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Independent Appraiser” means a Person:
(1) engaged in the business of appraising vessels who is generally acceptable to institutional lenders to the shipping industry; and
(2) who (a) is independent of the parties to the transaction in question and their Affiliates and (b) is not connected with the Company, any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any of such Affiliates as an officer, director, employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee, partner or person performing similar functions.
“Initial Purchasers” means Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
14
“Initial Securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in the second introductory paragraph of this Indenture.
“Interest Rate Agreement” means with respect to any Person any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement as to which such Person is party or a beneficiary.
“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of any direct or indirect advance, loan (other than advances to customers in the ordinary course of business) or other extension of credit (including by way of Guarantee or similar arrangement, but excluding any debt or extension of credit represented by a bank deposit other than a time deposit) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by, such Person and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that none of the following will be deemed to be an Investment:
(1) Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business and in compliance with this Indenture;
(2) endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business; and
(3) an acquisition of assets, Capital Stock or other securities by the Company or a Subsidiary for consideration to the extent such consideration consists of Common Stock of the Company.
For purposes of Section 3.4:
(1) “Investment” will include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in a Restricted Subsidiary to be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets (as conclusively determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith) of such Subsidiary at the time that such Subsidiary is so re-designated a Restricted Subsidiary; and
(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.
15
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than “Baa3” (or the equivalent) by Moody’s or “BBB-” (or the equivalent) by S&P.
“Issue Date” means the first date on which the Initial Securities are originally issued.
“Joint Venture” means a partnership or joint venture that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof).
“Material Agreements” means the Charters, the Charter Ancillary Agreement, the Performance Guarantee and the Management Agreements, each entered into or to be entered into prior to the Escrow Release in accordance with the Fleet Purchase Agreement.
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc, or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
“Net Available Cash” from an Asset Disposition means cash payments actually received (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition or received in any other noncash form) therefrom, in each case net of:
(1) all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Disposition;
(2) all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Disposition, or by applicable law be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;
(3) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Disposition;
(4) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Disposition and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition; and
(5) all expenditures incurred to inspect, repair or modify a Vessel and bring such Vessel to the condition and place of delivery in connection with the sale of such Vessel as may be specified in the related purchase and sale agreement or otherwise as the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine as advisable in connection with such sale.
16
“Net Cash Proceeds,” with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale actually received net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result of such issuance or sale (after taking into account any available tax credit or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).
“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness as to which:
(1) neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary (a) provides any Guarantee or credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, guarantee, indemnity, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) or (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise);
(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default under such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; and
(3) there is no recourse against any of the assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Non-U.S. Person” means a person who is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.
“Note Register” has the meaning ascribed to it Section 2.3.
“Offering Circular” means the Offering Circular dated December 11, 2003 pursuant to which the Initial Securities were offered for sale.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.
“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that ranks equally in right of payment to the Securities.
“Permitted Holders” means Frontline and its Affiliates.
17
“Permitted Investment” means an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in:
(1) a Restricted Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the primary business of such Restricted Subsidiary is a Related Business;
(2) another Person if as a result of such Investment such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Person’s primary business is a Related Business;
(3) Investments in Joint Ventures in connection with a Related Business in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, as of the most recent balance sheet date, the lesser of (a) $25.0 million and (b) 2.5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at any one time outstanding;
(4) cash and Cash Equivalents;
(5) receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;
(6) payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;
(7) stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of a debtor;
(8) Investments made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Disposition that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 3.7;
(9) Investments in existence on the Issue Date;
(10) Currency Agreements, Fuel Hedging Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements and related Hedging Obligations, which transactions or obligations are Incurred in compliance with Section 3.3;
(11) Guarantees issued in accordance with Section 3.3; and
(12) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (11) above, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Investments by the Company or any of its
18
Restricted Subsidiaries, when taken together with other Investments made pursuant to this clause (12), in an aggregate amount not to exceed $20.0 million outstanding at any one time.
“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:
(1) Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries under Credit Facilities in an aggregate amount at any one time not to exceed $1,160,000,000;
(2) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred to finance the construction, purchase or lease of, or repairs, improvements or additions to, property of such Person, including a Vessel (which term, for purposes of this clause (2), shall include the Capital Stock of a Person substantially all of the assets of which is a Vessel and any Related Assets, as the context may require); provided, however, (A) subject to clause (B) below, in the case of a Vessel, (i) except as provided in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) below, the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such a Lien does not exceed (x) with respect to Indebtedness Incurred to finance the construction of such Vessel, 80% of the sum of (1) the contract price pursuant to the Vessel Construction Contract for such Vessel and (2) any other Ready for Sea Cost for such Vessel, and (y) with respect to Indebtedness Incurred to finance the acquisition of such Vessel, 80% of the sum of (1) the contract price for the acquisition of such Vessel and (2) any other Ready for Sea Cost of such Vessel, (ii) in the case of Indebtedness that matures within nine months after the Incurrence of such Indebtedness (other than any Refinancing Indebtedness of such Indebtedness or Indebtedness that matures within one year prior to the Stated Maturity of the Securities), the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such a Lien shall not exceed the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, of such Vessel at the time such Lien is incurred, (iii) in the case of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction, the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such a Lien shall not exceed the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, of such Vessel at the time such Lien is incurred and (iv) in the case of Indebtedness representing Capitalized Lease Obligations relating to a Vessel, the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such a Lien shall not exceed 100% of the sum of (1) the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, of such Vessel at the time such Lien is incurred and (2) any Ready for Sea Cost for such Vessel and (B) in the case of Additional Assets acquired directly or indirectly from Net Available Cash pursuant to Section 3.7, the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such a Lien does not exceed the lesser of (i) 80% of the contract price for the acquisition of such Additional Asset and (ii) the contract price for the acquisition of such Additional Asset less the Net Available Cash used to acquire such Additional Asset; provided further, however, that such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries at the time the Lien is Incurred and the Indebtedness (other than any interest thereon) secured by the Lien may not be incurred more than 180 days after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction, repair, improvement, addition or commencement of full operation of the property subject to the Lien;
(3) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits or cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such
19
Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(4) Liens imposed by law, including carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens;
(5) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet subject to penalties for non-payment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof;
(6) Liens in favor of issuers of surety or performance bonds or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business; provided, however, that such letters of credit do not constitute Indebtedness;
(7) encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;
(8) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as the related Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be under this Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligation;
(9) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(10) judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default so long as such Lien is adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;
(11) Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capitalized Lease Obligations with respect to, assets or property (other than Vessels) acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business, provided that:
(a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or constructed; and
(b) such Liens are created within 180 days of construction or acquisition of such assets or property and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto;
20
(12) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depositary institution; provided that:
(a) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board; and
(b) such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;
(13) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statements;
(14) Liens existing on the Issue Date;
(15) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further, however, that any such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(16) Liens on property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(17) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;
(18) Liens securing the Securities and Subsidiary Guarantees;
(19) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness that was previously so secured, provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced or is in respect of property that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder;
(20) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising from Vessel chartering, drydocking, maintenance, the furnishing of supplies and bunkers to Vessels, repairs and improvements to Vessels, crews’ wages and maritime Liens;
(21) any Lien or pledge created or subsisting in the ordinary course of business over documents of title, insurance policies or sale contracts in relation to commercial goods to secure the purchase price thereof;
21
(22) Liens for salvage and general average; and
(23) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (22) above, Liens securing Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Obligations and Guarantor Subordinated Obligations) in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed $20.0 million.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, clauses (2), (15) and (16) of this definition shall not apply with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Fleet Purchase Agreement.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, government or any agency or political subdivision hereof or any other entity.
“Preferred Stock,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.
“Public Equity Offering” means an offering for cash by the Company of its common stock, or options, warrants or rights with respect to its common stock made pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (other than on Form S-4 or S-8 or their foreign private issuer equivalent, if any).
“Rating Agency” means each of S&P and Xxxxx’x, or if S&P or Xxxxx’x or both shall not make a rating on the Securities publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of its Board of Directors) which shall be substituted for S&P or Xxxxx’x or both, as the case may be.
“Ready for Sea Cost” means with respect to a Vessel or Vessels to be acquired or leased (pursuant to a Capitalized Lease Obligation) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the aggregate amount of all expenditures incurred to acquire or construct and bring such Vessel or Vessels to the condition and location necessary for its intended use, including any and all inspections, appraisals, repairs, modifications, construction related insurance, additions, permits and licenses in connection with such acquisition or lease.
“Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is Incurred to refund, refinance, replace, exchange, renew, repay or extend (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) (collectively, “refinance” and “refinances” and “refinanced” shall have correlative meanings) any Indebtedness existing Issue Date or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture (including Indebtedness of the Company that refinances Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of another Restricted Subsidiary) including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness, provided, however, that:
22
(1) (a) if the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced is earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Securities, the Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced or (b) if the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced is later than the Stated Maturity of the Securities, the Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity at least 91 days later than the Stated Maturity of the Securities;
(2) the Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(3) such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of Indebtedness being refinanced (plus, without duplication, any additional Indebtedness Incurred to pay interest or premiums required by the instruments governing such existing Indebtedness and fees incurred in connection therewith); and
(4) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Securities or any Subsidiary Guarantee, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Securities or any Subsidiary Guarantee on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Securities as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain registration rights agreement dated as of the date of this Indenture by and between the Company and the Initial Purchasers set forth therein and future registration rights agreements with respect to Additional Securities.
“Related Asset” means, with respect to a Vessel, (a) any insurance policies and contracts from time to time in force with respect to such Vessel, (b) the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Company owning such Vessel and related assets, (c) any requisition compensation payable in respect of any compulsory acquisition thereof, (d) any earnings derived from the use or operation thereof and/or any earnings account with respect to such earnings, (e) any charters, operating leases and related agreements entered into in respect of such Vessel and any security or guarantee in respect of the charterer’s or lessee’s obligations under such charter, lease or agreement, (f) any cash collateral account established with respect to such Vessel pursuant to the financing arrangement with respect thereto, (g) any building, conversion or repair contracts relating to such Vessel and any security or guarantee in respect of the builder’s obligations under such contracts and (h) any security interest in, or agreement or assignment relating to, any of the foregoing or any mortgage in respect of such Vessel.
“Related Business” means any business which is the same as or related, ancillary or complementary to any of the businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of this Indenture or any other business that the Board of Directors determines in good faith is an appropriate business for the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Related Business Assets” means assets used or useful in a Related Business.
23
“Representative” means any trustee, agent or representative (if any) of an issue of Indebtedness; provided that when used in connection with the Credit Facilities, the term “Representative” shall refer to the administrative agent under the Credit Facilities.
“Restricted Investment” means any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc, or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America.
“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.
“Secured Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is secured by a lien on the property or assets of the relevant obligor.
“Securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in the second introductory paragraph of this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securities Custodian” means the custodian with respect to the Global Security (as appointed by DTC), or any successor Person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.
“Securityholder” or “Holder” means the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Note Register.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
“Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger” shall be deemed to have occurred if either of the following conditions has not been satisfied as of 5:01 p.m. Eastern time on March 17, 2004: (a) a Release Certificate and Opinion of Counsel shall have been delivered to the Trustee in accordance with Section 5(a) of the Escrow Agreement, and (b) the Fleet Purchase Completion shall have occurred.
“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
24
“Subordinated Obligation” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Securities pursuant to a written agreement.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership and joint venture interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such Person, (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Subsidiary Guarantee” means, individually, any Guarantee of payment of the Securities by a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and any supplemental indenture hereto, and, collectively, all such Guarantees.
“Subsidiary Guarantor” means (1) each Subsidiary of the Company in existence on the date of the Escrow Release and (2) each other Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 3.12, in each case until such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be such in accordance with this Indenture.
“Successful Public Listing” means the completion of one or more transactions that result in at least 20% of the then outstanding Common Stock of the Company being listed or quoted for public trading on the Oslo Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, Nasdaq National Market System or other United States national securities exchange, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee to such effect.
“Total Loss” means, with respect to a Vessel, a total loss, destruction, condemnation, confiscation, requisition, seizure, forfeiture, blocking and trapping or other taking of title to or use of such Vessel (provided that such loss, destruction, condemnation, confiscation, requisition, seizure, forfeiture, blocking and trapping or other taking of title to or use of such Vessel was covered by insurance or resulted in the actual payment of compensation, indemnification or similar payments to such Person).
“Treasury Rate” means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) which has become publicly available at least two business days prior to the Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source or similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to December 15, 2008; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to December 15, 2008 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the Redemption Date to December 15, 2008 is less than one year, the weekly
25
average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.
“TIA” or “Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture.
“Trust Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Trustee” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.
“U.S. Dollar Equivalent” means, with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, at or as of any time for the determination thereof, the amount of U.S. dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into U.S. dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars with the applicable foreign currency as quoted by Reuters (or, if Reuters ceases to provide such spot quotations, by any other reputable service as is providing such spot quotations, as selected by the Company) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date not more than two business days prior to such determination.
“U.S. Government Securities” means non-callable direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:
(1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Company in the manner provided below; and
(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger or consolidation or Investment therein) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if:
(1) such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries does not own any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of or have any Investment in, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, any other Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
26
(2) all the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries shall consist of Non-Recourse Debt;
(3) such designation and the Investment of the Company in such Subsidiary complies with Section 3.4;
(4) such Subsidiary, either alone or in the aggregate with all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries, does not operate, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(5) such Subsidiary is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation:
(a) to subscribe for additional Capital Stock of such Person; or
(b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and
(6) on the date such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with terms substantially less favorable to the Company than those that might have been obtained from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company.
Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the preceding conditions. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred as of such date.
The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the first paragraph of Section 3.3 on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.
“Vessel” means one or more shipping vessels whose primary purpose is the maritime transportation of cargo and/or passengers or which are otherwise engaged, used or useful in any business activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and which are owned by and registered (or to be owned by and registered) in the name of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or operated or to be operated by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to a lease or other operating agreement constituting a Capitalized Lease Obligation, in each case together with all related spares, equipment and any additions or improvements.
27
“Vessel Construction Contract” means any contract for the construction (or construction and acquisition) of a Vessel entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any amendments, supplements or modifications thereto or change orders in respect thereof.
“Voting Stock” of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of such Person.
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, all of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) is owned by the Company or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary.
Section 1.2 Other Definitions.
|
TERM |
|
DEFINED IN |
|
“Additional Amounts” |
3.1(b) |
|
|
“Additional Restricted Securities” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Affiliate Transaction” |
3.8 |
|
|
“Agent Member” |
2.1(e) |
|
|
“Agreement Currency” |
11.16 |
|
|
“Asset Disposition Offer Amount” |
3.7(c)(1) |
|
|
“Asset Disposition Offer Period” |
3.7(c)(1) |
|
|
“Asset Disposition Offer” |
3.7(b) |
|
|
“Asset Disposition Purchase Date” |
3.7(c)(1) |
|
|
“Authenticating Agent” |
2.2 |
|
|
“Certificate of Destruction” |
2.12 |
|
|
“Change in Tax Law” |
5.1(b) |
|
|
“Change of Control Offer” |
3.9(b) |
|
|
“Change of Control Payment Date” |
3.9(b)(2) |
|
|
“Change of Control Payment” |
3.9(b)(1) |
|
|
“Company Order” |
2.2 |
|
|
“Corporate Trust Office” |
3.14 |
|
|
“covenant defeasance option” |
8.1(b) |
|
|
“Defaulted Interest” |
2.13 |
|
|
“Distribution Compliance Period” |
2.6(b) |
|
|
“Event of Default” |
6.1 |
|
|
“Excess Proceeds” |
3.7(b) |
|
|
“Exchange Global Note” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Global Securities” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“IAI” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Institutional Accredited Investor Note” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Judgment Currency” |
11.16 |
|
|
“legal defeasance option” |
8.1(b) |
|
|
“Legal Holiday” |
11.8 |
|
|
“Note Register” |
2.3 |
|
28
|
TERM |
|
DEFINED IN |
|
“Obligations” |
10.1 |
|
|
“Pari Passu Notes” |
3.7(b) |
|
|
“Paying Agent” |
2.3 |
|
|
“payment default” |
6.1(6)(a) |
|
|
“Payor” |
3.1(b) |
|
|
“Private Placement Legend” |
2.1(d) |
|
|
“protected purchaser” |
2.9 |
|
|
“QIB” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Redemption Date” |
5.1 |
|
|
“Registrar” |
2.3 |
|
|
“Regulation S Global Note” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Regulation S Note” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Regulation S” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Relevant Tax Jurisdiction” |
3.1(b) |
|
|
“Required Filing Dates” |
3.2 |
|
|
“Resale Restriction Termination Date” |
2.6(a) |
|
|
“Restricted Payment” |
3.4 |
|
|
“Rule 144A Global Note” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Rule 144A Note” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“Rule 144A” |
2.1(b) |
|
|
“SK” |
11.15 |
|
|
“Special Interest Payment Date” |
2.13(a) |
|
|
“Special Record Date” |
2.13(a) |
|
|
“Successor Company” |
4.1 |
|
Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“indenture securities” means the Securities.
“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on this Indenture securities means the Company and any other obligor on this Indenture securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined in the TIA by reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
29
Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) “or” is not exclusive;
(4) “including” means including without limitation;
(5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;
(6) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;
(7) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(8) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater;
(9) references to U.S. dollar amounts mean the U.S. Dollar Equivalent as of the date of any determination thereof; and
(10) the term “merger” includes an amalgamation, a compulsory share exchange, a conversion of a corporation into another business entity and any other transaction having effects substantially similar to a merger under the General Corporation Laws of the State of Delaware
Section 2.1 Form, Dating and Terms.
(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date will be in an aggregate principal amount of $580,000,000. In addition, the Company may issue, from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, including, without limitation, Section 3.3 hereof, Additional Securities and Exchange Securities. Furthermore, Securities may be authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer, or in exchange for or in lieu of, other Securities pursuant to Section 2.2, 2.6, 2.9, 2.11, 5.8 or 9.5 or in connection with an Asset Disposition Offer pursuant to Section 3.7 or a Change of Control Offer pursuant to Section 3.9.
The Initial Securities, Additional Securities and Exchange Securities shall be known and designated as “8½ % Senior Notes due 2013” of the Company.
30
The Initial Securities, the Additional Securities and the Exchange Securities shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of this Indenture. Holders of the Initial Securities, the Additional Securities and the Exchange Securities will vote and consent together on all matters to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent as one class, and none of the Holders of the Initial Securities, the Additional Securities or the Exchange Securities shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent.
(b) The Initial Securities are being offered and sold by the Company pursuant to a Purchase Agreement, dated December 11, 2003, among the Company, Frontline and the Initial Purchasers. The Initial Securities and any Additional Securities (if issued as Restricted Securities) (the “Additional Restricted Securities”) will be resold initially only to (A) qualified institutional buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) in reliance on Rule 144A (“QIBs”), (B) Persons other than U.S. Persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”) and (C) institutional “accredited investors” (as defined in Rules 501(a)(1), (2), (3) and (7) under the Securities Act) who are not QIBs (“IAIs”) in accordance with Rule 501 of the Securities Act. Such Initial Securities and Additional Restricted Securities may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S and IAIs in accordance with the procedures described herein.
Initial Securities and Additional Restricted Securities offered and sold to QIBs in the United States of America in reliance on Rule 144A (the “Rule 144A Notes”) shall be issued in the form of a permanent global Security, without interest coupons, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, including appropriate legends as set forth in Section 2.1(d) (the “Rule 144A Global Note”), deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Rule 144A Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.
Initial Securities and Additional Securities offered and sold outside the United States of America (the “Regulation S Notes”) in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued in the form of a permanent global Security, without interest coupons, substantially in the form of Exhibit A (the “Regulation S Global Note”) deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Regulation S Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.
Initial Securities and Additional Securities offered and sold to IAIs (the “Institutional Accredited Investor Notes”) in the United States of America shall be issued in the form of a permanent global Security, without interest coupons, substantially in the form of Exhibit A (the “Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note”) deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for
31
DTC, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate. The aggregate principal amount of the Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for DTC or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.
Exchange Securities exchanged for interests in the Rule 144A Notes, the Regulation S Notes and the Institutional Accredited Investor Notes will be issued in the form of a permanent global Security, without interest coupons, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, deposited with the Trustee as hereinafter provided, including the appropriate legend set forth in Section 2.1(d) (the “Exchange Global Note”). The Exchange Global Note may be represented by more than one certificate, if so required by DTC’s rules regarding the maximum principal amount to be represented by a single certificate.
The Rule 144A Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note, the Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note and the Exchange Global Note are sometimes collectively herein referred to as the “Global Securities.”
The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities shall be payable at the office or agency designated by the Company maintained for such purpose in the City of New York, or at such other office or agency of the Company as may be maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3; provided, however, that, at the option of the Company, each installment of interest may be paid by (i) check mailed to addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear on the Note Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the payee. Payments in respect of Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by DTC.
The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage, in addition to those set forth on Exhibit A and Exhibit B and in Section 2.1(d). The terms of the Securities set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B are part of the terms of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to be bound by such terms.
(c) Denominations. The Securities shall be issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, and only in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
(d) Restrictive Legends. Unless and until (i) an Initial Security or Additional Security is sold under an effective registration statement or (ii) an Initial Security or Additional Security is exchanged for an Exchange Security in connection with an effective registration statement, in each case pursuant to the applicable Registration Rights Agreement or a similar agreement,
(A) the Rule 144A Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note and the Institutional Accredited Investor Global Note shall bear the following legend (the “Private Placement Legend”) on the face thereof:
32
“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS A NON-U.S. PURCHASER AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, AND (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PURCHASERS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S, OR TRANSFER AGENT’S, AS APPLICABLE, RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR
33
TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E), OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE OR REGISTRAR.
BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (I) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE AND HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF PLANS, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS OR OTHER ARRANGEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (COLLECTIVELY, “SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF SUCH PLANS, ACCOUNTS OR ARRANGEMENTS, OR (II) THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.”
(B) The Global Securities, whether or not an Initial Security, shall bear the following legend on the face thereof:
“UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR
34
TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.”
(e) Book-Entry Provisions
(i) This Section 2.1(e) shall apply only to Global Securities deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC.
(ii) Each Global Security initially shall (x) be registered in the name of DTC, (y) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for DTC and (z) bear legends as set forth in Section 2.1(d).
(iii) Members of, or participants in, DTC (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by DTC or by the Trustee as the custodian of DTC or under such Global Security, and DTC may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or impair, as between DTC and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of DTC governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Security.
(iv) In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interest in a Global Security pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section 2.1 to beneficial owners who are required to hold Definitive Securities, the custodian shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Security to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Definitive Securities of like tenor and amount.
(v) In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section 2.1, such Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by DTC in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities of authorized denominations.
(vi) The Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.
35
(f) Definitive Securities.
(i) Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will not be entitled to receive Definitive Securities. If required to do so pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, beneficial owners may obtain Definitive Securities in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Security upon written request in accordance with DTC’s and the Registrar’s procedures. In addition, Definitive Securities shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Security if (a) DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Security or DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, at a time when DTC is required to be so registered in order to act as depositary, and in each case a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or, (b) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee and Registrar an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (c) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request from DTC.
(ii) Any Definitive Security delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Security pursuant to Section 2.1(e)(iv) or (v) shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.6(c), bear the applicable legend regarding transfer restrictions applicable to the Definitive Security set forth in Section 2.1(d).
(iii) In connection with the exchange of a portion of a Definitive Security for a beneficial interest in a Global Security, the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Security, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to the transferring Holder a new Definitive Security representing the principal amount not so transferred.
Section 2.2 Execution and Authentication. One Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless, after giving effect to any exchange of Initial Securities for Exchange Securities.
A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually authenticates the Security. The signature of the Trustee on a Security shall be conclusive evidence that such Security has been duly and validly authenticated and issued under this Indenture. A Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery: (1) Initial Securities for original issue on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $580,000,000, (2) Additional Securities for original issue and (3) Exchange Securities for issue only in an Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, and only in exchange for Initial Securities or Additional Securities of an equal principal amount, in each case upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company (the “Company Order”). Such Company Order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated, whether the Securities are to be Initial Securities, Additional Securities or
36
Exchange Securities and whether the Securities shall be issued in the form of Exhibit A or Exhibit B hereto.
The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent.
In case the Company, pursuant to Article IV, shall be consolidated or merged with or into any other Person or shall sell, lease, convey, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its assets to any Person, and the successor Person resulting from such consolidation, or surviving such merger, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or the Person which shall have received a disposition as aforesaid, shall have executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Article IV, any of the Securities authenticated or delivered prior to such consolidation, merger or other disposition may, from time to time, at the request of the successor Person, be exchanged for other Securities executed in the name of the successor Person with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise in substance of like tenor as the Securities surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon Company Order of the successor Person, shall authenticate and deliver Securities as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Securities shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a successor Person pursuant to this Section 2.2 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Securities, such successor Person, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Securities at the time outstanding for Securities authenticated and delivered in such new name.
Section 2.3 Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain in the City of New York or Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange (the “Note Register”). The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.
The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.7. The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or transfer agent.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Securities.
37
Section 2.4 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. By no later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date on which any principal of or premium or interest on any Security is due and payable, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such principal, premium or interest when due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Securityholders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or premium or interest on the Securities and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.
Section 2.5 Securityholder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, or to the extent otherwise required under the TIA, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Securityholders.
Section 2.6 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note prior to the date which is two years after the later of the date of its original issue and the last date on which the Company or any Affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Securities (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”):
(i) a transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB shall be made upon the representation of the transferee in the form as set forth on the reverse of the Security that it is purchasing for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A;
(ii) a transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note or a beneficial interest therein to an IAI shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.7 from the
38
proposed transferee and, if requested by the Company or the Trustee, the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them; and
(iii) a transfer of a Rule 144A Note or an Institutional Accredited Investor Note or a beneficial interest therein to a Non-U.S. Person shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.8 from the proposed transferee and, if requested by the Company or the Trustee, the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them.
(b) The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed transfer of a Regulation S Note prior to the expiration of the applicable distribution compliance period specified in Rule 903(b) of Regulation S (the “Distribution Compliance Period”):
(i) a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB shall be made upon the representation of the transferee, in the form of assignment on the reverse of the certificate, that it is purchasing the Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A;
(ii) a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to an IAI shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.7 from the proposed transferee and, if requested by the Company or the Trustee, the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them; and
(iii) a transfer of a Regulation S Note or a beneficial interest therein to a Non-U.S. Person shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.8 hereof from the proposed transferee and, if requested by the Company or the Trustee, receipt by the Trustee or its agent of an opinion of counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them.
After the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, interests in the Regulation S Note may be transferred without requiring the certification set forth in Section 2.7, Section 2.8 or any additional certification.
(c) Restricted Securities Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Securities not bearing a Restricted Securities Legend, the Registrar shall deliver Securities that do not bear a Restricted Securities Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Securities bearing a Restricted Securities Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Securities that bear a Restricted Securities Legend unless there is delivered to the Registrar an Opinion of
39
Counsel to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.
(d) The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.1 or this Section 2.6. The Company shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable prior written notice to the Registrar.
(e) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Securities.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article II, execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Securities and Global Securities at the Registrar’s or co-registrar’s request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charges payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.7, 3.9 or 9.5).
(iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Security selected for redemption or for a period beginning 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed.
(iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(v) Any Definitive Security delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Security pursuant to Section 2.1(e) shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.6(c), bear the applicable legend regarding transfer restrictions applicable to the Definitive Security set forth in Section 2.1(d).
(vi) All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(f) No Obligation of the Trustee.
(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in, DTC or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to
40
the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than DTC) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among DTC participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Section 2.7 Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers to Institutional Accredited Investors.
[Date]
Ship Finance International Limited
c/o Wilmington Trust Company
Xxxxxx Square North
1100 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Dear Sirs:
This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $ principal amount of the 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 (the “Securities”) of Ship Finance International Limited (the “Company”).
Upon transfer, the Securities would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:
|
Name: |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
Address: |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
Taxpayer ID Number: |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
We hereby confirm that: |
|||||
41
1. We are an institutional “Accredited Investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);
2. Any purchase of notes by us will be for our own account or the account of one or more other Accredited Investors as to which we exercise sole investment discretion;
3. We are not acquiring the notes for or on behalf of, and will not transfer the notes to, any pension or welfare plan (as defined in Section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) except as permitted in the section entitled “Notice to Investors” of the Offering Circular;
4. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that we are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of purchasing the notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are able to bear the economic risks of an entire loss of our or their investment in the notes;
5. We are not acquiring notes with a view to any distribution thereof in a transaction that would violate the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction; provided that the disposition of our property and the property of any accounts for which we are acting as fiduciary shall remain at all times within our and their control;
6. We acknowledge that the notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and that the notes may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons except as set forth below.
We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of each account for which we acquire any notes, that, for a period of two years after the later of the date of (x) original issuance of the notes and (y) the last date on which the notes or any part thereof were owned by the Company or an affiliate of the Company, such notes may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (i) to the Company, (ii) inside the United States to a person that we reasonably believe to be a “Qualified Institutional Buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in compliance with Rule 144A, (iii) inside the United States to a person we reasonably believe to be an Accredited Investor that, prior to such transfer, furnishes to the trustee under the indenture governing the notes (the “Trustee”) a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements (a form of which can be obtained from the Trustee), (iv) outside the United States to persons other than U.S. persons in offshore transactions meeting the requirements of Rule 904 under Regulation S under the Securities Act, (v) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act (if available), or (vi) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and in each case, in accordance with any applicable laws of any state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction.
We understand that the Trustee will not be required to accept for registration of transfer any notes acquired by us, except upon presentation of evidence satisfactory to the Company and
42
the Trustee that the foregoing restrictions on transfer have been complied with. We further understand that the notes purchased by us will bear a legend reflecting the substance of this paragraph. We further agree to provide to any person acquiring any of the notes from us a notice advising such person that resales of the notes are restricted as stated herein and that certificates representing the notes will bear a legend to that effect.
We acknowledge that you, the Company, the Trustee and others will rely upon our acknowledgements, representations and agreements set forth herein, and we agree to notify you promptly in writing if any of our acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein cease to be accurate and complete.
As used herein, the terms “offshore transaction,” “United States” and “U.S. person” have the respective meanings given to them in Regulation S under the Securities Act.
|
|
TRANSFEREE: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
BY: |
|
|
Section 2.8 Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S.
[Date]
Ship Finance International Limited
c/o Wilmington Trust Company
Xxxxxx Square North
1100 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Re: Ship Finance International Limited 8½ % Senior Notes due 2013 (the “Securities”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale of $ aggregate principal amount of the Securities, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
(a) the offer of the Securities was not made to a person in the United States;
(b) either (i) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee
43
was outside the United States or (ii) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;
(c) no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable; and
(d) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
In addition, if the sale is made during a distribution compliance period and the provisions of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 903 or Rule 904, as the case may be.
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
|
|
Very truly yours, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Name of Transferor] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
Authorized Signature] |
|
Section 2.9 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Securityholder (a) satisfies the Company or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Securityholder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Company or Trustee prior to the Security being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced, and, in the absence of notice to the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for any such mutilated Security or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
44
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) in connection therewith.
Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) and any other obligor upon the Securities, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 2.10 Outstanding Securities. Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. A Security shall be deemed to be outstanding in the event the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security, provided, however, that (i) for purposes of determining which are outstanding for consent or voting purposes hereunder, the provisions of Section 11.6 shall apply and (ii) in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making a determination whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes or have consented to or voted in favor of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, amendment or modification hereunder, or relying upon any such quorum, consent or vote, only Securities which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be held by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall not be considered outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.9, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on a Redemption Date or other maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest payable on that date with respect to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or otherwise maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
Section 2.11 Temporary Securities. In the event that Definitive Securities are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Securities are ready for delivery,
45
the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Securities. After the preparation of Definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at any office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose and such exchange shall be without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therfor, one or more Definitive Securities representing an equal principal amount of Securities. Until so exchanged, the Holder of temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as a Holder of Definitive Securities.
Section 2.12 Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and destroy such Securities in accordance with its internal policies including delivery of a certificate (a “Certificate of Destruction”) describing such Securities disposed (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for any reason other than in connection with a transfer or exchange.
Section 2.13 Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest. Interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.3.
Any interest on any Security which is payable, but is not paid when the same becomes due and payable and such nonpayment continues for a period of 30 days shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the regular record date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such defaulted interest and (to the extent lawful) interest on such defaulted interest at the rate borne by the Securities (such defaulted interest and interest thereon herein collectively called “Defaulted Interest”) shall be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:
(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date (as defined below) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date (not less than 30 days after such notice) of the proposed payment (the “Special Interest Payment Date”), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons
46
entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a record date (the “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which date shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the Special Interest Payment Date and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date, and in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor to be given in the manner provided for in Section 11.2, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid on the Special Interest Payment Date to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).
(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
Section 2.14 Computation of Interest. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Section 2.15 CUSIP AND ISIN Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such CUSIP and ISIN numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP and ISIN numbers.
Section 3.1 Payment of Securities; Payment of Additional Amounts.
(a) Payment of Securities. The Company shall pay the principal of, premium on and interest on the Securities by 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. All references in this Indenture to interest on the Securities shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest that may be payable with respect to
47
the Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Rights Agreement. Principal, premium and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture immediately available funds sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest then due.
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from payments hereunder.
(b) Payment of Additional Amounts. If any taxes, assessments or other governmental charges are imposed by any jurisdiction where the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or a successor of either (a “Payor”) is organized or otherwise considered by a taxing authority to be a resident for tax purposes, any jurisdiction from or through which the Payor makes a payment on the Securities, or, in each case, any political organization or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax (the “Relevant Tax Jurisdiction”) in respect of any payments under the Securities, the Payor will pay to each Holder of a Security, to the extent it may lawfully do so, such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary in order that the net amounts paid to such Holder will be not less than the amount specified in such Security to which such Holder is entitled; provided, however, the Payor will not be required to make any payment of Additional Amounts for or on account of:
(1) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for (a) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company or corporation) and the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction including, without limitation, such Holder (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (b) the presentation of a Security (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after (x) the date on which such payment became due and payable or (y) the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later (in either case (x) or (y), except to the extent that the Holder would have been entitled to Additional Amounts had the Security been presented for such 30-day period);
(2) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;
(3) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the Holder or the beneficial owner of the Security to comply with a reasonable and timely request of the Payor addressed to the Holder to provide information, documents or other evidence concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner which is required by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice
48
of the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge; or
(4) any combination of the above;
nor will Additional Amounts be paid with respect to any payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any Security to any Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or limited liability company or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the Relevant Tax Jurisdiction to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership, limited liability company or beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such Additional Amounts had it been the Holder of such Security.
The Payor will provide the Trustee with the official acknowledgment of the Relevant Tax Authority (or, if such acknowledgment is not available, a certified copy thereof) evidencing the payment of the withholding taxes by the Payor. Copies of such documentation will be made available to the Holders of the Securities or the Paying Agents, as applicable, upon request therefor.
The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will pay any present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes, or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise in any jurisdiction from the execution, delivery or registration of the Securities or any other document or instrument referred to in this Indenture (other than a transfer of the Securities), or the receipt of any payments with respect to the Securities, excluding any such taxes, charges or similar levies imposed by any jurisdiction outside Bermuda or any jurisdiction in which a Paying Agent is located, other than those resulting from, or required to be paid in connection with, the enforcement of this Indenture or any other such document or instrument following the occurrence of any Event of Default.
All references in this Indenture to principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities will include any Additional Amounts payable by the Payor in respect of such principal, such premium, if any, and such interest.
Section 3.2 SEC Reports. (1) The Company shall, for so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, file with the SEC and the Trustee all such reports and other information which the Company would have been required to file with (and in such form as is required by) the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision thereto applicable to a “foreign private issuer,” as that term is defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act, such documents to be filed with the SEC on or prior to the respective dates (the “Required Filing Dates”) by which the Company would be required so to file such documents and (b) whether or not required pursuant to the immediately preceding clause, (i) within 120 days following the end of each fiscal year of the Company, annual reports on Form 20-F (or any successor form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor form); and (ii) within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, reports on Form 6-K (or any successor form), containing unaudited financial statements (including a balance sheet and statement of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows) and Management’s Discussion and
49
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for and as of the end of each such quarter (with comparable financial statements for such quarter in the immediately preceding fiscal year). The Company shall also in any event (a) within 15 days of each Required Filing Date, as applicable, request that the Trustee transmit such documents by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Securities register, without cost to such Holders, and (b) if filing such documents by the Company with the SEC is not permitted under the Exchange Act, promptly upon written request supply copies of such documents to any prospective Holder. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of such Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall be deemed to have satisfied this Section 3.2 by supplying all of the foregoing information to the Trustee and making all such information publicly available on the Company’s website.
(2) If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraph shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes to the financial statements, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
(3) In addition, for so long as any Securities remain outstanding, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will furnish to the Holders of the Securities and prospective purchasers of the Securities, upon their request, the information, if any, required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
(4) The Company shall at all times comply with TIA §314(a).
Section 3.3 Limitation on Indebtedness. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, Incur any Indebtedness; provided, however, that the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors may Incur Indebtedness if on the date thereof:
(1) the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is at least 2.00 to 1.00; and
(2) no Default or Event of Default will have occurred or be continuing or would occur as a consequence of Incurring the Indebtedness.
The first paragraph of this Section 3.3 will not prohibit the Incurrence of the following Indebtedness:
(1) Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred pursuant to the Credit Facilities in an amount up to $1,160,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(2) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred to finance the replacement (through construction or acquisition) of one or more Vessels, and any assets that shall become Related Assets (and any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to such Vessels or assets), upon a Total Loss, in an aggregate amount no greater than the Ready for Sea Cost for such replacement Vessel, in each case less all compensation, damages and other payments
50
(including insurance proceeds other than in respect of business interruption insurance) actually received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Person in connection with the Total Loss in excess of amounts actually used to repay Indebtedness secured by the Vessel subject to the Total Loss;
(3) the Subsidiary Guarantees and other Guarantees by the Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness Incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; provided that in the event such Indebtedness that is being Guaranteed is a Subordinated Obligation or a Guarantor Subordinated Obligation, then the related Guarantee shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Guarantee;
(4) Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, provided, however,
(a) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is unsecured and expressly subordinated to all its obligations with respect to the Securities; and
(b) (x) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Indebtedness being beneficially held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (y) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be;
(5) (a) Indebtedness represented by the Securities (excluding any Additional Securities issued after the Issue Date) and (b) any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in respect of (w) the Securities, (x) any Indebtedness described in clause (2), (y) and Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant or (z) any Indebtedness described in this clause (5);
(6) Indebtedness under Currency Agreements, Fuel Hedging Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements; provided that in the case of Currency Agreements and Fuel Hedging Agreements, such Currency Agreements and Fuel Hedging Agreements are related to business transactions of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business or in the case of Currency Agreements, Fuel Hedging Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements, such Currency Agreements, Fuel Hedging Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements are entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or senior management of the Company) and substantially correspond in terms of notional amount, duration, currencies and interest rates, as applicable, to Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred without violation of this Indenture;
(7) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred in relation to: (a) regular maintenance required to maintain the classification of any of the Vessels owned, time chartered or bareboat chartered to or by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; (b) scheduled
51
dry-docking of any of the Vessels owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for normal maintenance purposes; and (c) any expenditures which will or may reasonably expected to be recoverable from insurance on such Vessels;
(8) Indebtedness incurred in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, performance, surety and similar bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
(9) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;
(10) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five business days of Incurrence; and
(11) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (10) above, Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (11) and then outstanding, will not exceed $75.0 million.
The Company will not Incur any Indebtedness under the preceding paragraph if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to refinance any Subordinated Obligations of the Company unless such Indebtedness will be subordinated to the Securities to at least the same extent as such Subordinated Obligations. No Subsidiary Guarantor will incur any Indebtedness if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to refinance any Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor unless such Indebtedness will be subordinated to the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee to at least the same extent as such Guarantor Subordinated Obligations.
For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this Section 3.3:
(1) in the event that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the first and second paragraphs of this Section 3.3, the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of Incurrence (or later classify or reclassify such Indebtedness) and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of such clauses; and
(2) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
52
Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, the accretion of value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness and the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 3.3. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (a) the accreted value of the Indebtedness in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (b) the principal amount or liquidation preference thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.
In addition, the Company will not permit any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries to Incur any Indebtedness or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock, other than Non-Recourse Debt. If at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be Incurred as of such date under this Section 3.3, the Company shall be in Default of this Section 3.3).
Section 3.4 Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to:
(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on or in respect of its Capital Stock (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) except:
(a) dividends or distributions payable in Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock; and
(b) dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (and if such Restricted Subsidiary is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, to its other holders of Common Stock on a pro rata basis);
(2) purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company held by Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than in exchange for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock));
(3) purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations (other than the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase or acquisition); or
(4) make any Restricted Investment in any Person;
(any such dividend, distribution, purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, other acquisition, retirement or Restricted Investment referred to in clauses (1) through (4) shall be referred to herein as a “Restricted Payment”), unless at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted
53
Payment no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and either:
(I) Prior to completion of a Successful Public Listing only, the Company is able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 3.3 after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted Payment and the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments declared or made subsequent to the Issue Date would not exceed the sum of:
(i) 15% of Consolidated Cash Flow for the period (treated as one accounting period) from the first day of the fiscal quarter in which the Issue Date occurs to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of such Restricted Payment for which financial statements are in existence; plus
(ii) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from the issue or sale of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or other capital contributions subsequent to the Issue Date (other than Net Cash Proceeds received from an issuance or sale of such Capital Stock to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust is financed by loans from or guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary unless such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination); plus
(iii) $5.0 million; or
(II) From and after completion of a Successful Public Listing only,
(a) if the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is at least 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to the fiscal quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made, is less than Available Surplus Cash with respect to the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, provided that the Company will not pay or declare any extraordinary or one-time dividends on its Capital Stock (“extraordinary or one-time dividends” meaning for such purpose dividends in excess of amounts stated in the Company’s regular Capital Stock dividend policy as determined from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors); or
(b) if the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is less than 1.75 to 1.00, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made (such Restricted Payments for purposes of this clause (b) meaning only distributions on Common Stock of the Company), is less than $25.0 million less the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (b) during the
54
period ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Company immediately preceding the date of such Restricted Payment and beginning on the Issue Date.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this covenant, neither the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall make any Restricted Payment to the extent that, after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the sum of (a) cash and Cash Equivalents held by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) cash and Cash Equivalents held by the Charterer to support its obligations under its Vessel charters with the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the Charter Ancillary Agreement, is less than $100.0 million. For the purposes of the foregoing, from and after completion of a Successful Public Listing, the Company may rely in good faith upon written confirmation from the Charterer, delivered no more than two Business Days prior to its determination, as to the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents then held by the Charterer.
The foregoing provisions of this Section 3.4 will not prohibit:
(1) any purchase or redemption of Capital Stock, Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan or similar trust is financed by loans from or Guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary unless such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination); provided, however, that (a) such purchase or redemption will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments and (b) the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale will be excluded from clause I(ii) of the preceding paragraph;
(2) any purchase or redemption of Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, respectively, that qualifies as Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that such purchase or redemption will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;
(3) dividends paid within 60 days after the date of declaration if at such date of declaration such dividend would have complied with this provision; provided, however, that such dividends will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;
(4) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the purchase, redemption or other acquisition, cancellation or retirement for value of Capital Stock, or options, warrants, equity appreciation rights or other rights to purchase or acquire Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any parent of the Company held by any existing or former employees or management of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or their assigns, estates or heirs, in each case in connection with the repurchase provisions under employee or director stock option or stock purchase agreements or other agreements to compensate management employees or directors; provided that such redemptions or repurchases pursuant to this clause will not exceed $2.5 million in the aggregate during any calendar year and $10.0 million in the aggregate for all such redemptions and repurchases; provided, however, that
55
the amount of any such repurchase or redemption will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;
(5) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Consolidated Interest Expense;” provided that the payment of such dividends will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments; and
(6) repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price thereof; provided, however, that such repurchases will be excluded from subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any cash Restricted Payment shall be its face amount and any non-cash Restricted Payment shall be determined conclusively by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith by resolution, such determination to be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an investment banking firm of national standing if such fair market value is estimated to exceed $25.0 million, or, in the case of a Vessel, to be based upon a written appraisal of three Independent Appraisers.
Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment (excluding any Restricted Payment described in the preceding clause (6)), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this Section 3.4 were computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion or appraisal required by this Indenture.
Section 3.5 Limitation on Liens. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or suffer to exist any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of its property or assets (including Capital Stock), whether owned on the date of this Indenture or acquired after that date, securing any Indebtedness, unless contemporaneously with the Incurrence of the Liens effective provision is made to secure the Indebtedness due under this Indenture and the Securities or, in respect of Liens on any Restricted Subsidiary’s property or assets, any Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, equally and ratably with (or prior to in the case of Liens with respect to Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, as the case may be) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien for so long as such Indebtedness is so secured.
Section 3.6 Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:
56
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) make any loans or advances to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or
(3) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
The preceding provisions will not prohibit:
(a) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to any Indebtedness Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary on or before the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company (other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company or in contemplation of the transaction) and outstanding on such date;
(b) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement effecting a refunding, replacement or refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clause (a) of this paragraph or this clause (b) or contained in any amendment to an agreement referred to in clause (a) of this paragraph or this clause (b); provided, however, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such agreement are no less favorable in any material respect to the Holders of the Securities than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in such agreements referred to in clause (a) of this paragraph on the Issue Date or the date such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary, whichever is applicable;
(c) in the case of clause (3) of the first paragraph of this Section 3.6, any encumbrance or restriction:
(x) that restricts in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a charter, lease, license or similar contract, or the assignment or transfer of any such charter, lease, license or other contract;
(y) contained in mortgages, pledges or other security agreements permitted under this Indenture securing Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such encumbrances or restrictions restrict the transfer of the property subject to such mortgages, pledges or other security agreements; or
(z) pursuant to customary provisions restricting dispositions of real property interests set forth in any reciprocal easement agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
57
(d) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose encumbrances or restrictions of the nature described in clause (3) of the first paragraph of this Section 3.6 on the property so acquired;
(e) any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary (or any of its property or assets) imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the direct or indirect sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the property or assets that are subject to such restriction) pending the closing of such sale or disposition; and
(f) encumbrances or restrictions arising or existing by reason of applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order.
Section 3.7 Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition (excluding for purposes of the following clauses (1) and (2) an Asset Disposition connected with a Total Loss) unless:
(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Disposition at least equal to the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors (including as to the value of all non-cash consideration), of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition;
(2) at least 80% of the consideration from such Asset Disposition received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; and
(3) subject to the requirement to make an Asset Disposition Offer as described below, an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition (including from an Asset Disposition connected with a Total Loss) is applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, to any one of the following:
(a) to prepay, repay or purchase Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Stock or Subordinated Obligations) of the Company or Indebtedness (other than any Preferred Stock or Guarantor Subordinated Obligation) of a Restricted Subsidiary (in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) within 360 days from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash; provided, however, that, in connection with any prepayment, repayment or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (a), the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid or purchased; and
(b) to acquire or invest in Additional Assets or make installment or progress payments in respect of such Additional Assets within 360 days from the
58
later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash.
(b) Any Net Available Cash from Asset Dispositions that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” On the 361st day after an Asset Disposition, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company shall make an offer (“Asset Disposition Offer”) to all Holders of Securities and to the extent required by the terms of other Pari Passu Indebtedness, to all holders of other Pari Passu Indebtedness outstanding with similar provisions requiring the Company to make an offer to purchase such Pari Passu Indebtedness with the proceeds from any Asset Disposition (“Pari Passu Notes”), to purchase the maximum principal amount of Securities and any such Pari Passu Notes to which the Asset Disposition Offer applies that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities and Pari Passu Notes (or, in respect of the Pari Passu Notes, such lesser offer price as many be applicable) plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture or the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes, as applicable, in each case in integral multiples of $1,000. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Securities and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to the other covenants contained in this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Securities surrendered by Holders thereof and other Pari Passu Notes surrendered by holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Securities and Pari Passu Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Securities and Pari Passu Notes. Upon completion of such Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
(c) (1) The Asset Disposition Offer will remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Asset Disposition Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period (the “Asset Disposition Purchase Date”), the Company will purchase the principal amount of Securities and Pari Passu Notes required to be purchased pursuant to this Section 3.7 (the “Asset Disposition Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been so validly tendered, all Securities and Pari Passu Notes validly tendered in response to the Asset Disposition Offer.
(2) If the Asset Disposition Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name a Security is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders of the Securities who tender Securities pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer.
(3) On or before the Asset Disposition Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Asset Disposition Offer Amount of Securities and Pari Passu Notes or portions of Securities and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer, or if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been validly tendered and not
59
properly withdrawn, all Securities and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, in each case in integral multiples of $1,000. The Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Securities or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.7 and, in addition, the Company will deliver all certificates and Pari Passu Notes required, if any, by the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes. The Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five Business Days after termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder of Securities or holder or lender of Pari Passu Notes, as the case may be, an amount equal to the purchase price of the Securities or Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn by such holder or lender, as the case may be, and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Security, and the Trustee, upon delivery of an Officers’ Certificate from the Company will authenticate and mail or deliver such new Security to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Security surrendered; provided that each such new Security will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. In addition, the Company will take any and all other actions required by the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes. Any Security not so accepted will be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Disposition Offer on the Asset Disposition Purchase Date.
For the purposes of this Section 3.7, the following will be deemed to be cash:
(1) the assumption by the transferee of Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Obligations or Disqualified Stock) of the Company or Indebtedness (other than Guarantor Subordinated Obligations or Preferred Stock) of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and the release of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from all liability on such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Disposition (in which case the Company will, without further action, be deemed to have applied such deemed cash to Indebtedness in accordance with clause (a)(3)(a) above); and
(2) securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from the transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 90 days from the receipt of such obligations.
The Company will, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any Asset Swaps, unless:
(1) at the time of entering into such Asset Swap and immediately after giving effect to such Asset Swap, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
(2) in the event such Asset Swap involves the transfer by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of assets having an aggregate fair market value, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, in excess of $5.0 million, the terms of such Asset Swap have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company; and
60
(3) in the event such Asset Swap involves the transfer by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of assets having an aggregate fair market value, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, in excess of $30.0 million, the Company has received a written opinion from an independent investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing (or, in the case of Vessels, three Independent Appraisers), that such Asset Swap is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, from a financial point of view.
(d) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section 3.7. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 3.7, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue of any conflict.
Section 3.8 Limitation on Affiliate Transactions. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of the Company (an “Affiliate Transaction”) unless:
(1) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate;
(2) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate amount in excess of $5.0 million, the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and by a majority of the members of such Board having no direct or indirect interest (other than with respect to the Company) in such transaction, if any, (and such majority or majorities, as the case may be, determines that such Affiliate Transaction satisfies the criteria in clause (1) above); and
(3) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate amount in excess of $10.0 million, the Company has received a written opinion from an independent investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing (or, in the case of Vessels, three Independent Appraisers) that such Affiliate Transaction is not materially less favorable than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate.
(b) The preceding paragraph will not apply to:
(1) any Restricted Payment (other than a Restricted Investment) permitted to be made pursuant to Section 3.4;
(2) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans and other reasonable fees, compensation, benefits and indemnities paid or
61
entered into by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to or with officers, directors or employees of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(3) any transaction between the Company and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or between Wholly Owned Subsidiaries;
(4) the issuance or sale of any Company Stock of the Company or any contribution to the capital of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and
(5) the performance of obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of any agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party on the Issue Date and disclosed in the Offering Circular or identified on Schedule I to this Indenture, as these agreements may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time; provided, however, that any future amendment, modification or supplement entered into after the Issue Date will be permitted to the extent that its terms are not more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Securities than the terms of the agreements in effect on the Issue Date.
Section 3.9 Change of Control.
(a) If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of Securities will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Securities plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to repurchase the Securities pursuant to this Section 3.9 if the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Securities pursuant to the terms of Section 5.1.
(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each registered Holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:
(1) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of such Securities plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date) (the “Change of Control Payment”);
(2) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed) (the “Change of Control Payment Date”); and
(3) the procedures determined by the Company, consistent with this Indenture, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Securities repurchased.
(c) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:
62
(1) accept for payment all Securities or portions of Securities (in integral multiples of $1,000) properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Securities or portions of Securities so tendered; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities or portions of Securities being purchased by the Company.
(d) The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to each Holder of Securities so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Securities, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Security equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Security will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000.
(e) If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Security is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.
(f) In the event that any issue of Indebtedness issued under an indenture or other agreement may be violated by the payment of the Change of Control Offer, the Company covenants to effect repayment of such Indebtedness or obtain from the holders of such Indebtedness consent and waivers of any event of default within 30 days following any Change of Control, it being a Default of this Section 3.9 if the Company fails to comply with such covenant.
(g) The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
(h) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section 3.9. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue of the conflict.
(i) The provisions of this Section 3.9 will apply whether or not any other provisions of the Indenture are applicable.
Section 3.10 Limitation on Sale of Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Voting Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary or to
63
issue any of the Voting Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than, if necessary, shares of its Voting Stock constituting directors’ qualifying shares) to any Person except:
(1) to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary; or
(2) in compliance with Section 3.7 and immediately after giving effect to such issuance or sale, such Restricted Subsidiary would continue to be a Restricted Subsidiary.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the Company may sell all the Voting Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary as long as the Company complies with the terms of Section 3.7.
Section 3.11 Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction unless:
(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction at least equal to the fair market value (as evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company) of the property subject to such transaction;
(2) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have Incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness in respect of such Sale/Leaseback Transaction pursuant to Section 3.3;
(3) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be permitted to create a Lien on the property subject to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction without securing the Securities or any Subsidiary Guarantor of such Restricted Subsidiary as set forth in Section 3.5; and
(4) the Sale/Leaseback Transaction is treated as an Asset Disposition and all of the conditions of this Indenture described under Section 3.7 (including the provisions concerning the application of Net Available Cash) are satisfied with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction, treating all of the consideration received in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction as Net Available Cash for purposes of such covenant.
Section 3.12 Future Subsidiary Guarantors. After the Issue Date, the Company will cause each Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired by the Company or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplement to this Indenture, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, providing for a Subsidiary Guarantee; provided that with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date but prior to the Escrow Release, the foregoing requirements shall be deemed satisfied so long as they are complied with at or prior to such Escrow Release.
Section 3.13 Limitation on Lines of Business. The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than a Related Business.
Section 3.14 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in The City of New York or Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The
64
Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such notices and demands may be made or served at the Trustee’s principal corporate trust office (the “Corporate Trust Office”), and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such notices and demands.
Section 3.15 Corporate Existence. Subject to Article IV and Section 10.2, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and that of each Subsidiary Guarantor and the corporate rights (charter and statutory) licenses and franchises of the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such existence (except the Company), right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Securities or this Indenture.
Section 3.16 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary and (ii) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies, which, if unpaid, might by law become a material liability or lien upon the property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, except for any Lien permitted to be incurred pursuant to subsections (4) and (5) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves, if necessary (in the good faith judgment of management of the Company), are being maintained in accordance with GAAP or where the failure to pay or discharge the same would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Securities or this Indenture.
Section 3.17 Payments for Consent. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fees or otherwise, to any Holder of any Securities for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Securities unless such consideration is offered to be paid or is paid to all Holders of the Securities that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or amendment.
Section 3.18 Compliance Certificate. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as Officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the Default or Event of Default, its status and what action the Company
65
is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with TIA § 314(a)(4).
Section 3.19 Further Instruments and Acts. Upon the reasonable request of the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.
Section 3.20 Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within thirty days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 3.21 Amendments of Material Agreements. Prior to the completion of a Successful Public Listing, the Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, amend or modify (or agree to amend or modify) any of the Material Agreements in a manner that would materially adversely affect the rights of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder, taken as a whole. For purposes of the foregoing, a waiver of compliance shall be deemed a modification.
Section 3.22 Insurance. The Company will maintain, and will cause its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance coverage by financially sound and reputable insurers in such forms and amounts and against such risks as are at that time customary for corporations of established reputation engaged in the same or a similar business and owning and operating similar properties including general liability insurance and (but without duplication) protection and indemnity insurance, hull and machinery insurance and oil pollution insurance.
Section 3.23 Suspended Covenants. During any period of time that the Securities have an Investment Grade Rating from both the Rating Agencies and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the provisions of this Indenture corresponding with Sections 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.10, and 3.13; provided, however, that if the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of this Section 3.23 and, subsequently, either of the Rating Agencies withdraws its ratings or downgrades the ratings assigned to the Securities below the Investment Grade Ratings so that the Securities do not have an Investment Grade Rating from both Rating Agencies, or a Default or Event of Default (other than with respect to the Suspended Covenants) occurs and is continuing, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants, subject to the terms, conditions and obligations set forth in this Indenture.
Section 4.1 Merger and Consolidation. The Company will not consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, lease, convey, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:
66
(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”) will be a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of Bermuda, the United States of America, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia or any other country recognized by the United State of America and the Successor Company (if not the Company) will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Successor Company as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(3) except in the case of a merger of the Company with or into a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the Successor Company would be able to Incur at least an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 3.3;
(4) unless the Company is the Successor Company, each Subsidiary Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions above, in which case clause (1) shall apply) shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations in respect of this Indenture and the Securities and its obligations under the applicable Registration Rights Agreement shall continue to be in effect;
(5) if the Successor Company is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than Bermuda or the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, it delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters that, taken together, state that the Holders of the Securities will not suffer any economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage as a result of such transaction; and
(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.
For purposes of this Section 4.1, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture, but, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the Company will not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities.
67
ARTICLE
V
Redemption of
Securities
Section 5.1 Optional Redemption; Optional Tax Redemption.
(1) Except as set forth in this Section 5.1 and Section 5.9, the Securities shall not be subject to redemption until December 15, 2008. On and after December 15, 2008, the Company may redeem all or, from time to time, part of the Securities upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities, if any, to the applicable date of redemption (any such date, a “Redemption Date”) (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on December 15 of the years indicated below:
|
YEAR |
|
PERCENTAGE |
|
|
2008 |
|
104.250 |
% |
|
2009 |
|
102.833 |
% |
|
2010 |
|
101.417 |
% |
|
2011 and thereafter |
|
100.000 |
% |
(2) Prior to December 15, 2006, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original principal amount of the Securities (including any Additional Securities) with the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings at a redemption price of 108.50% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided that:
(a) at least 65% of the original principal amount of the Securities remains outstanding after each such redemption; and
(b) the redemption occurs within 60 days after the closing of such Public Equity Offering.
(3) At any time prior to December 15, 2008 the Securities may be redeemed in whole or in part at the option of the Company upon (a) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (b) if no more than 5.0% of the principal amount of the Securities (including any Additional Securities) shall remain outstanding at any time, in each case upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice (but in no event more than 90 days after the occurrence of such Change of Control event) mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least one Business Day prior to the Redemption Date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the redemption price and showing in reasonable detail the method of its determination.
68
(4) The Payor may redeem all, but not less than all, of the Securities if as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations or rulings of any Relevant Tax Jurisdiction or any change in the official application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, or any change in the official application or interpretation of, or any execution of or amendment to, any treaty or treaties affecting taxation to which such Relevant Tax Jurisdiction is a party (a “Change in Tax Law”) the Payor is or would be required on the next succeeding interest payment date to pay Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities as set forth in Section 3.1, and the payment of such Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the use of any reasonable measures available to the Payor; provided that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that the aggregate amount of such Additional Amounts would create additional annual costs in excess of 0.50% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities then outstanding. In the case of the Company, the Change in Tax Law must become effective on or after the date of the Offering Circular. In the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor, or a successor of either the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, the Change in Tax Law must become effective after the date that such entity first makes payment on the Securities. Further, the Payor must deliver to the Trustee at least 30 days before the applicable Redemption Date an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Payor has or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts as a result of such Change in Tax Law. The Payor must also provide the Holders with notice of the intended redemption at least 30 days and no more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date. The redemption price will equal the principal amount of the Securities plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the applicable Redemption Date and Additional Amounts, if any, then due and which otherwise would be payable.
Section 5.2 Applicability of Article. Redemption of Securities at the election of the Company or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article.
Section 5.3 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities pursuant to Section 5.1 shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, not later than the earlier of the date that is 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company or the date on which notice is given to the Holders (except as provided in Section 5.5 or unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to Section 5.4.
Section 5.4 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities are to be redeemed at any time pursuant to an optional redemption, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption, in compliance with the requirements of the principal securities exchange, if any, on which such Securities are listed, or, if such Securities are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements) and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of the Securities; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than $1,000.
69
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.
Section 5.5 Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided for in Section 11.2 not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed. The Trustee shall give notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least five Business Days prior to the date of giving such notice, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice at the Company’s expense and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the following items.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date,
(2) the redemption price (or, if the redemption price is not then determinable, the basis for its determination) and the amount of accrued interest to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 5.7, if any,
(3) if less than all outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification of the particular Securities (or portion thereof) to be redeemed, as well as the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be outstanding after such partial redemption,
(4) in case any Definitive Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,
(5) that on the Redemption Date the redemption price (and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 5.7) will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed, and, unless the Company defaults in making the redemption payment, that interest on Securities called for redemption (or the portion thereof) will cease to accrue on and after said date,
(6) the place or places where Definitive Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price and accrued interest, if any,
(7) the name and address of the Paying Agent,
70
(8) that Definitive Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price,
(9) the CUSIP and ISIN numbers, and that no representation is made as to the accuracy or correctness of the CUSIP or ISIN numbers, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities, and
(10) the provision of the Indenture pursuant to which the Securities are to be redeemed.
Section 5.6 Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.4) an amount of money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.
Section 5.7 Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the redemption price therein specified (together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the redemption price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, except that if a Redemption Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, then accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name the Security is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders whose Securities will be subject to redemption by the Company.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Securities.
Section 5.8 Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Definitive Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article) shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 3.14 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder of such Security at the expense of the Company, a new Definitive Security or Securities, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered, provided, that each such new Security will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or integral multiple thereof.
Section 5.9 Special Mandatory Redemption. Following the occurrence of the Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger, the Company shall redeem the Securities as a whole,
71
upon notice as provided in this Section 5.9, at a redemption price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. Notwithstanding Section 5.5, the Company shall give notice of such mandatory redemption within ten days of the occurrence of the Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger by first-class mail mailed not less than 30 or more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Securities at its registered address and to the Escrow Agent, stating:
(1) that the Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger has occurred;
(2) the Redemption Date;
(3) the redemption price;
(4) that on the Redemption Date the redemption price will become due and payable upon each Security to be redeemed and that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after such date; and
(5) the place or places where each Security is to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price.
Upon receipt of the Escrow Funds pursuant to Section 5(b) of the Escrow Agreement, the Paying Agent or the Trustee (as the case may be) shall use all such Escrow Funds along with additional funds provided by Frontline in accordance with the Escrow Agreement to pay the redemption price and accrued interest due on the Redemption Date, provided that the foregoing shall not relieve the Company of its obligations with respect to such redemption.
ARTICLE
VI
Defaults and
Remedies
Section 6.1 Events of Default. Each of the following is an “Event of Default”:
(1) default in any payment of interest or additional interest (as required by a Registration Rights Agreement) on any Security when due, continued for 30 days;
(2) default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any Security when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required redemption or repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;
(3) failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply with its obligations under Article IV or Section 10.2;
(4) failure by the Company to comply with any of its obligations under Sections 3.2 through 3.22 (inclusive) (in each case, other than a failure to purchase Securities which will constitute an Event of Default under clause (2) above and other than a failure to comply with Section 4.1 or Section 10.2 which is covered by clause (3)) for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities;
72
(5) failure by the Company to comply with its other agreements contained in this Indenture for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities;
(6) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, which default:
(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the stated maturity of such Indebtedness (“payment default”); or
(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its maturity;
and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $15.0 million or more;
(7) (a) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;
(ii) consents to the entry of judgment, decree or order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property;
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
(v) consents to or acquiesces in the institution of a bankruptcy or an insolvency proceeding against it; or
(vi) takes any corporate action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing; or
(b) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited
73
consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or
(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or a group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;
(8) failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $15.0 million (net of any amounts that a reputable and creditworthy insurance company has acknowledged liability for in writing), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;
(9) any Subsidiary Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms of this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or its Subsidiary Guarantee; or
(10) prior to the completion of a Successful Public Listing, the failure by Charterer, Frontline or Frontline Management to comply for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities with any of its obligations under the Material Agreements.
Section 6.2 Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (7) of Section 6.1) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Securities to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal, premium and accrued and unpaid interest will be due and payable immediately. In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Securities because an Event of Default described in clause (6) of Section 6.1 has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Securities shall be automatically annulled if the event of default or payment default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to clause (6) of Section 6.1 shall be remedied or cured by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or waived by the holders of the relevant Indebtedness within 20 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto and if (1) the annulment of the acceleration of the Securities would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal, premium or interest on the Securities that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Securities, have been cured or waived. If an Event of Default described in clause (7) of Section 6.1 above occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid
74
interest on all the Securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.
Section 6.3 Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Securityholder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.
Section 6.4 Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice to the Trustee may (a) waive, by their consent (including, without limitation consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities), an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences except (i) a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on a Security or (ii) a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each Securityholder affected and (b) rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Securities and its consequences if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived. When a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any consequent right.
Section 6.5 Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Securityholders or would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
Section 6.6 Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.7, a Securityholder may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice stating that an Event of Default is continuing;
75
(2) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities make requested in writing that the Trustee pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;
(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have not given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.
A Securityholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Securityholder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Securityholder.
Section 6.7 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 6.6), the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Securities, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.8 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.1 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as Trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.7.
Section 6.9 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its Subsidiaries or its or their respective creditors or properties and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.
Section 6.10 Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:
FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.7;
76
SECOND: to Securityholders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: to the Company.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Securityholder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.
Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by the Company, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.7 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in outstanding principal amount of the Securities.
Section 6.12 Additional Payments. In the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would have had to pay if the Company then had elected to redeem the Securities pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of this Indenture or was required to repurchase the Securities, an equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the Securities.
Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such Person’s own affairs; provided that if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against loss, liability or expense.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein,
77
upon certificates, opinions or orders furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.5.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.
(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA.
(i) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.
(j) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 7.1:
78
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, unless the Trustee’s conduct constitutes willful misconduct or negligence.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
Section 7.3 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
Section 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.
Section 7.5 Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder notice of the Default or Event of Default within 30 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium (if any), or interest on any Security (including payments pursuant to the optional redemption or required repurchase provisions of such Security, if any), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders.
Section 7.6 Reports by Trustee to Holders. As promptly as practicable after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to July 15 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with TIA § 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports required by TIA § 313(c).
79
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders shall be filed with each stock exchange (if any) on which the Securities are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Securities become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
Section 7.7 Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, costs of preparing and reviewing reports, certificates and other documents, costs of preparation and mailing of notices to Securityholders, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, damages, claims or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it without negligence or willful misconduct on its part in connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.7) and of defending itself against any claims (whether asserted by any Securityholder, the Company or otherwise). The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel provided that the Company shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes the Trustee’s defense, and, in the reasonable judgment of outside counsel to the Trustee, there is no conflict of interest between the Company and the Trustee in connection with such defense. The Company shall not be under any obligation to pay for any written settlement without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or negligence.
To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities.
The Company’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the discharge of this Indenture. When the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in clause (7) of Section 6.1 with respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 7.8 Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:
80
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Securityholders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Securities may petition, at the Company’s expense, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the TIA, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee Person without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
81
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA § 310(a). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met.
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.
ARTICLE VIII
Discharge
of Indenture; Defeasance
Section 8.1 Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance. (a) Subject to Section 8.1(c), when (i)(x) the Company delivers to the Trustee all outstanding Securities (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.9) for cancellation or (y) all outstanding Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity or upon redemption or will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption pursuant to Article V hereof and the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor irrevocably deposits or causes to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders money in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of Stated Maturity or redemption; (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound; (iii) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable under this Indenture and the Securities; and (iv) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of such Securities at Stated Maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be, then the Trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture on demand of the Company (accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent specified herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with) and at the cost and expense of the Company.
(b) Subject to Sections 8.1(c) and 8.2, the Company at any time may terminate (i) all its obligations under the Securities and this Indenture (“legal defeasance option”), and after giving effect to such legal defeasance, any omission to comply with such obligations shall no longer constitute a Default or Event of Default or (ii) its obligations under Sections 3.2 (other than paragraph (4) thereof), 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.21, 3.22 and clause (3) of 4.1 and the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect
82
of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant or clause, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or clause or by reason of any reference in any such covenant or clause to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply with such covenants shall no longer constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Sections 6.1(3) and 6.1(4) and the operation of Sections 6.1(6), 6.1(7) (but only with respect to a Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), 6.1(8), 6.1(9) and 6.1(10), and the events specified in such Sections shall no longer constitute an Event of Default (clause (ii) being referred to as the “covenant defeasance option”), but except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities shall be unaffected thereby. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.
If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(4) (as such Section relates to Sections 3.2 (other than paragraph (4) thereof), 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.21 and 3.22), 6.1(5), 6.1(6), 6.1(7) (but only with respect to a Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), 6.1(8), 6.1(9) or 6.1(10) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with clause (3) of Section 4.1.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.
If the Company exercises either its legal or covenant defeasance option, the Subsidiary Guarantees in effect at such time will terminate.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 8.1(a) and(b), the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11, 3.1, 3.2(4), 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18, 3.19, 3.20, 6.7, 7.7, 7.8 and in this Article 8 shall survive until the Securities have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.7, 8.4 and 8.5 shall survive.
Section 8.2 Conditions to Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:
(1) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders money in U.S. dollars or U.S. Government Securities or a combination thereof for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Securities plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal and interest when due on all the Securities to maturity;
83
(3) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, with respect to certain bankruptcy or insolvency Events of Default, on the 91st day after such date of deposit;
(4) such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(5) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) to the effect that (A) the Securities and (B) assuming no intervening bankruptcy of the Company between the date of deposit and the 91st day following the deposit and that no Holder of the Securities is an insider of the Company, after the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ right generally;
(6) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;
(7) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) in the United States stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Securityholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance had not occurred;
(8) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) in the United States to the effect that the Securityholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred; and
(9) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Securities and this Indenture as contemplated by this Article VIII have been complied with.
Section 8.3 Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Securities deposited with it pursuant to this Article VIII. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Securities through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities.
84
Section 8.4 Repayment to Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money, U.S. Government Securities or securities held by them upon payment of all the obligations under this Indenture.
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal of or premium or interest on the Securities that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.
Section 8.5 Indemnity for U.S. Government Securities. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Securities or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Securities.
Section 8.6 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Securities in accordance with this Article VIII by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article VIII until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Securities in accordance with this Article VIII; provided, however, that, if the Company has made any payment on any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders. The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without notice to or consent of any Securityholder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to comply with Article IV in respect of the assumption by a Successor Company of an obligation of the Company under this Indenture;
(3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities (provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f) (2) (B) of the Code);
(4) to add additional Subsidiary Guarantors or confirm and evidence the release of a Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture; provided, however, that the designation is in accord with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;
85
(5) to secure the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees;
(6) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
(7) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder;
(8) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or
(9) provide for a successor Trustee under this Indenture.
After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.
Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders. The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without notice to any Securityholder but with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities). However, without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment may not:
(1) reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment;
(2) reduce the stated rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any Security;
(3) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Security;
(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption or repurchase of any Security or change the time at which any Security may be redeemed or repurchased as described under Article V, Section 3.9, Section 3.7 or any similar provision, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;
(5) make any Security payable in currency other than that stated in the Security;
(6) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of, premium, if any, principal of and interest on such Holder’s Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Securities;
(7) modify the Subsidiary Guarantees in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Securities; or
(8) make any change in this Section 9.2 or in Section 6.4.
86
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. A consent to any amendment or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder of the Securities given in connection with a tender of such Holder’s Securities will not be rendered invalid by such tender.
After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.
Section 9.3 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.4 Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers. A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Securityholder. An amendment or waiver shall become effective upon receipt by the Trustee of the requisite number of written consents under Section 9.1 or 9.2 as applicable.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Securityholders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Securityholders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall become valid or effective more than 120 days after such record date.
Section 9.5 Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment.
Section 9.6 Trustee To Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and to receive, and (subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2) shall be fully protected in
87
relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE
X
Subsidiary
Guarantees
Section 10.1 Subsidiary Guarantees. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, jointly and severally with each other Subsidiary Guarantor, to each Holder of the Securities and the Trustee the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other monetary obligations of the Company under this Indenture (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Obligations”). Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees (to the extent permitted by law) that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound under this Article X notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Company of any of the Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Securities or the Obligations. The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (a) the failure of any Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Company or any other person under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any thereof; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (d) the release of any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Obligations or any of them; (e) the failure of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy against any other Subsidiary Guarantor; or (f) any change in the ownership of the Company.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee herein constitutes a Guarantee of payment when due (and not a Guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder to any security held for payment of the Obligations.
Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.1(b) and 10.2, the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than payment of the Obligations in full), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Subsidiary Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of such Subsidiary Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.
88
Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder has at law or in equity against any Subsidiary Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay any of the Obligations when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid amount of such Obligations then due and owing and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Obligations then due and owing (but only to the extent not prohibited by law).
Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between such Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in this Indenture for the purposes of its Subsidiary Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed hereby and (y) in the event of any such declaration of acceleration of such Obligations, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Subsidiary Guarantor for the purposes of this Subsidiary Guarantee.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or the Holders in enforcing any rights under this Section.
Section 10.2 Limitation on Liability; Termination, Release and Discharge.
(a) The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor (including, without limitation, any guarantees under the Credit Facilities) and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law.
(b) Each Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate with or merge into or sell its assets to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor without limitation. Subject to Article III and Article IV, each Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate with or merge into or sell all or substantially all its assets to a corporation, partnership or trust other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor (whether or not affiliated with the Subsidiary Guarantor), except that if the surviving Person of any such merger or consolidation is a Subsidiary of the Company but not a Subsidiary Guarantor, such merger, consolidation or sale shall not be permitted unless (i) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance
89
reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee in respect of the Securities, this Indenture and the Subsidiary Guarantee; (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and (iii) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel addressed to the Trustee with respect to the foregoing matters. Upon the sale or disposition of a Subsidiary Guarantor (by merger, consolidation, the sale of its Capital Stock or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets (other than by a vessel charter made in the ordinary course of business)) and whether or not the Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person in such transaction to a Person (whether or not an Affiliate of the Subsidiary Guarantor) which is not the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, which sale or disposition is otherwise in compliance with this Indenture (including, without limitation, Sections 3.4, 3.7 and 3.10), such Subsidiary Guarantor will be deemed released from all its obligations under this Indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee and such Subsidiary Guarantee will terminate; provided, however, that any such termination will occur only to the extent that all obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Credit Facilities, related documentation and any other agreements relating to any other Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries will also terminate upon such release, sale or transfer.
(c) A Subsidiary Guarantor will be deemed released and relieved of its obligations under this Indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee without any further action required on the part of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor upon (i) the designation of such Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or (ii) if the Company exercises either its legal or covenant defeasance option in accordance with Article VIII.
Section 10.3 Right of Contribution. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that any Subsidiary Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made on the obligations under the Subsidiary Guarantees, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor who has not paid its proportionate share of such payment, so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantees. The provisions of this Section 10.3 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of each Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee and the Holders and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable to the Trustee and the Holders for the full amount guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.
Section 10.4 No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder, no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Trustee or any Holder against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Trustee or any Holder for the payment of the Obligations, nor shall any Subsidiary Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Trustee and the Holders by the Company on account of the Obligations are paid in full. If any amount shall be paid to any Subsidiary Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by such Subsidiary Guarantor in trust for the Trustee and the Holders, segregated from other funds of such Subsidiary Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Subsidiary Guarantor, be
90
turned over to the Trustee in the exact form received by such Subsidiary Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee, if required), to be applied against the Obligations.
Section 11.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in an indenture qualified under the TIA, the provision required by the TIA shall control. Each Subsidiary Guarantor in addition to performing its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall perform such other obligations as may be imposed upon it with respect to this Indenture under the TIA.
Section 11.2 Notices. Any notice or communication shall be in writing in the English language and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:
if to the Company:
Ship Finance International Limited
Par-la-Ville Place, 00 Xxx-xx-Xxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx; or
if to the Trustee:
Wilmington Trust Company
Xxxxxx Square North
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
The Company, any Subsidiary or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication mailed to a registered Securityholder shall be mailed to the Securityholder at the Securityholder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.
91
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
Section 11.3 Communication by Holders with other Holders. Securityholders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 11.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(1) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
Section 11.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.
In giving such Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely as to factual matters on an Officers’ Certificate or on certificates of public officials.
Section 11.6 When Securities Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or by any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.
92
Section 11.7 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by, or a meeting of, Securityholders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.
Section 11.8 Legal Holidays. A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions are authorized or required to be closed in New York City, New York, Wilmington, Delaware or Oslo, Norway. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.
Section 11.9 GOVERNING LAW. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 11.10 No Recourse Against Others. An incorporator, director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, stockholder or controlling person, as such, of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities, this Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
Section 11.11 Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
Section 11.12 Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.
Section 11.13 Qualification of Indenture. The Company shall qualify this Indenture under the TIA in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement and shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses for the Company, the Trustee and the Holders) incurred in connection therewith, including, but not limited to, costs and expenses of qualification of this Indenture and the Securities and printing this Indenture and the Securities. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive from the Company any such Officers’ Certificates or other documentation as it may reasonably request in connection with any such qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.
Section 11.14 Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 11.15 Submission to Jurisdiction; Service of Process. The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably submit to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any competent New
93
York State Court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City for purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx, LLP (“SK”) as such Person’s authorized agent to receive and forward on its behalf service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court and agrees that service of process in accordance with applicable law upon SK (or any successor) at its office at Onx Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (or such other address in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, as the Company may designate by written notice to the other parties hereto) and written notice of such service to the Company, mailed or delivered to the Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx, Onx Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company and, if applicable, such Subsidiary Guarantor in any such suit, action or proceeding and shall be taken and held to be valid personal service upon the Company. Such designation and appointment shall be irrevocable. Nothing in this Section 11.15 shall affect the right of any party hereto to service process in any manner permitted by law or limit the right of any party hereto to bring proceeding against the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the courts of any jurisdiction or jurisdictions. The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor further agree to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of SK in full force and effect so long as this Indenture or any of the Securities shall be outstanding; provided that the Company may and shall (to the extent SK ceases to be able to be served on the basis contemplated herein), by written notice to the Trustee, designate such additional or alternative agent for service of process under this Section 11.15 that (a) maintains an office located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York in the State of New York, (b) is either (i) counsel for the Company or (ii) a corporate service company which acts as agent for service of process for other Persons in the ordinary course of its business and (c) agrees to act as agent for service of process in accordance with this Section 11.15. Such notice shall identify the name of such agent for process and the address of such agent for process in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, State of New York. Upon the request of any Holder, the Trustee shall deliver such information to such Holder. To the extent that the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction or any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably waive such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Indenture, the Securities and the Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, to the extent permitted by law.
Section 11.16 Indemnification for Foreign Currency Judgments. The obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to any Holder of Securities or the Trustee shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than United States dollars (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the first Business Day following receipt by such Holder of Securities or the Trustee, as the case may be, of any amount in the Judgment Currency, such Holder of Securities or the Trustee may in accordance
94
with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency in New York, New York. If the amount of the Agreement Currency that could be so purchased is less than the amount originally to be paid to such Holder of Securities or the Trustee, as the case may be, in the Agreement Currency, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding such judgment, to pay to such Holder of Securities or the Trustee, as the case may be, the difference, and if the amount of the Agreement Currency that could be so purchased exceeds the amount originally to be paid to such Holder of Securities or the Trustee, as the case may be, such Holder of Securities or the Trustee, as the case may be, agrees to pay to or for the account of the Company such excess, provided that such Holder of Securities or the Trustee, as the case may be, shall not have any obligation to pay any such excess as long as a default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in its obligations in respect of its obligations to pay when due any principal of, or interest, premium, if any, liquidated damages, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities, or any other amounts due under this Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees has occurred and is continuing, in which case such excess may be applied by such Holder of Securities or the Trustee, as the case may be, to such payment obligations.
(2) The provisions of this Section 11.16 shall apply irrespective of any indulgence granted to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor from time to time and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any payment by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, and any amount due from the Company under this Section 11.16 will be due as a separate payment and shall not be affected by any judgment obtained or claims made for any other sums due under or in respect of this Indenture.
Section 11.17 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
95
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
|
|
Very truly yours, |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
By: |
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx |
|
||||
|
|
Name: |
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx |
|
||||
|
|
Title: |
Director, Secretary and Attorney-In-Fact |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
By: |
/s/ Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx |
|
||||
|
|
Name: |
Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxx |
|
||||
|
|
Title: |
Authorized Signer |
|||||
AGREEMENTS
The Material Agreements (as defined in this Indenture), the Fleet Purchase Agreement (as defined in this Indenture) and each of the agreements contemplated in accordance with the Fleet Purchase Agreement are excluded from the provisions of Section 3.8(a) to the extent set forth in Section 3.8(b).
[FORM OF FACE OF UNREGISTERED NOTE]
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS A NON-U.S. PURCHASER AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, AND (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PURCHASERS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S, OR TRANSFER AGENT’S, AS APPLICABLE, RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E), OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE OR TRANSFER AGENT.
BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (I) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE AND HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF PLANS, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS OR OTHER ARRANGEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (COLLECTIVELY, “SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF SUCH PLANS, ACCOUNTS OR ARRANGEMENTS, OR (II) THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.
A-1
[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]
|
No. [ ] |
Principal Amount U.S. $[ ] |
|
|
|
|
|
CUSIP NO. |
SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
8½% Senior Note due 2013
Ship Finance International Limited, a Bermuda exempted company, promises to pay to [ ], or registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] U.S. Dollars, on , 2013.
Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15
Record Dates: June 1 and December 1 preceding each interest payment date
Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.
|
|
SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED |
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION |
|
||||
|
|
|
||||
|
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY |
|
||||
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
||||
|
By: |
|
|
|
Date: |
|
|
Authorized Signatory |
|
|
|||
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF UNREGISTERED NOTE]
A-2
8½% Senior Notes due 2013
(1) Interest
Ship Finance International Limited, an exempted Bermuda company (such company, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above, plus any Additional Interest specified in the Registration Rights Agreement or Additional Amounts described in the Indenture.
The Company will pay interest semiannually on June 15 and December 15 of each year commencing June 15, 2004. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on the Securities or, if no interest has been paid, from December 18, 2003. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium, if any (plus interest on such interest to the extent lawful), at the rate borne by the Securities to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(2) Method of Payment
By no later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date on which any principal of or premium or interest on any Security is due and payable, the Company shall irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, and/or interest. The Company will pay interest (except Defaulted Interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are cancelled, repurchased or redeemed after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by the transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a Definitive Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on the Securities may also be made, in the case of a Holder of a least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 15 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).
(3) Paying Agent and Registrar
Initially, Wilmington Trust Company (the “Trustee”), will act as Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice to any Securityholder. The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.
A-3
(4) Indenture
The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of December 18, 2003 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “Act”). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited. This Security is one of the 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 referred to in the Indenture. The Securities include (i) $580,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 issued under the Indenture on December 18, 2003 (herein called “Initial Securities”), (ii) if and when issued, additional 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 of the Company that may be issued from time to time under the Indenture subsequent to December 18, 2003 (herein called “Additional Securities”) and (iii) if and when issued, the Company’s 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 that may be issued from time to time under the Indenture in exchange for Initial Securities or Additional Securities in an offer registered under the Securities Act as provided in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement. The Initial Securities, Additional Securities and Exchange Securities are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture.
To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other amounts payable by the Company under the Indenture and the Securities when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantors unconditionally guarantee, jointly and severally, such obligations on a senior basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.
(5) Optional and Mandatory Redemption
The Securities are subject to both optional and mandatory redemption, either as a whole or in some cases in part, at the times, under the circumstances and at the redemption prices described in Article Five of the Indenture.
(6) Repurchase Provisions
(a) Upon a Change of Control any Holder of Securities will have the right to cause the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Securities of such Holder at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.
(b) In the event of an Asset Disposition that requires the purchase of Securities pursuant to Section 3.7(b) of the Indenture, the Company will be required to apply such Excess
A-4
Proceeds to the repayment of the Securities and any Pari Passu Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.7 of the Indenture.
(7) Denominations; Transfer; Exchange
The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of principal amount of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.
(8) Persons Deemed Owners
The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
(9) Amendment, Waiver
The Indenture or the Securities may be amended, and certain defaults may be waived, each as provided in the Indenture.
(10) Trustee Dealings with the Company
Subject to certain limitations set forth in the Indenture, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.
(11) No Recourse Against Others
An incorporator, director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, stockholder or controlling person, as such, of each of the Company, or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities, the Indenture or any Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
(12) Authentication
This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent acting on its behalf) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.
(13) Abbreviations
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Securityholder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entirety), JT TEN
A-5
(= joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian) and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
(14) CUSIP and ISIN Numbers
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
(15) Governing Law
This Security shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
(16) Additional Information
The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written request and without charge to the Securityholder a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:
Ship Finance International Limited
Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Xxx-xx-Xxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx: Chief Financial Officer
A-6
ASSIGNMENT FORM
|
|
To assign this Security, fill in the form below: |
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
I or we assign and transfer this Security to |
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code) |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.) |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
and irrevocably appoint agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him. |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Date: |
|
|
Your Signature: |
|
||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Signature Guarantee: |
|
|
||||||
|
(Signature must be guaranteed) |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security. |
||||||||
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
In connection with any transfer or exchange of any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is two years after the later of the date of original issuance of such Securities and the last date, if any, on which such Securities were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Securities are being:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW:
1 ý acquired for the undersigned’s own account, without transfer; or
2 ý transferred to the Company; or
3 ý transferred pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); or
4 ý transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or
X-0
0 x transferred pursuant to and in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act; or
6 ý transferred to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act), that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements (the form of which letter appears as Section 2.7 of the Indenture); or
7 ý transferred pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5), (6) or (7) is checked, the Trustee or the Company may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, in their sole discretion, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Trustee or the Company may reasonably request to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature Guarantee: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Signature must be guaranteed) |
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (1) OR (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
|
|
|
|
Dated: |
|
A-8
[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY
The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:
|
Date of |
|
Amount of |
|
Amount of |
|
Principal |
|
Signature
of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A-9
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 3.7 or 3.9 of the Indenture, check either box:
|
ý |
|
ý |
|
3.7 |
|
3.9 |
If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 3.7 or 3.9 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount (must be integral multiple of $1,000): $
|
Date: |
|
|
|
Your Signature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of the Security) |
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
Signature Guarantee: |
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
(Signature must be guaranteed) |
||||||
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
A-10
[FORM OF FACE OF REGISTERED NOTE]
[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]
|
No. [ ] |
Principal Amount U.S. $[ ] |
|
|
|
|
|
CUSIP NO. |
SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
8½% Senior Note due 2013
Ship Finance International Limited, an exempted Bermuda company, promises to pay to [ ], or registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] Dollars, on , 2013.
Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15
Record Dates: June 1 and December 1 preceding each interest payment date
Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.
B-1
|
|
SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
as Trustee, certifies
that this is one of
the Securities referred
to in the Indenture.
|
By: |
|
|
|
||
|
|
Authorized Signatory |
Date: |
|
||
B-2
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF REGISTERED NOTE]
8½% Senior Notes due 2013
(1) Interest
Ship Finance International Limited, an exempted Bermuda company (such company, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above, plus any Additional Interest specified in the Registration Rights Agreement or Additional Amounts described in the Indenture.
The Company will pay interest semiannually on June 15 and December 15 of each year commencing June 15, 2004. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on the Securities or, if no interest has been paid, from December 18, 2003. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium, if any (plus interest on such interest to the extent lawful), at the rate borne by the Securities to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(2) Method of Payment
By no later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date on which any principal of or premium or interest on any Security is due and payable, the Company shall irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, and/or interest. The Company will pay interest (except Defaulted Interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are cancelled, repurchased or redeemed after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by the transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a Definitive Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on the Securities may also be made, in the case of a Holder of a least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 15 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).
(3) Paying Agent and Registrar
Initially, Wilmington Trust Company (the “Trustee”), will act as Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or
B-3
co-registrar without notice to any Securityholder. The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.
(4) Indenture
The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of December 18, 2003 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “Act”). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.
The aggregate principal amount of securities that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited. This Security is one of the 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 referred to in the Indenture. The Securities include (i) $580,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 issued under the Indenture on December 18, 2003 (herein called “Initial Securities”), (ii) if and when issued, additional 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 of the Company that may be issued from time to time under the Indenture subsequent to December 18, 2003 (herein called “Additional Securities”) and (iii) if and when issued, the Company’s 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 that may be issued from time to time under the Indenture in exchange for Initial Securities or Additional Securities in an offer registered under the Securities Act as provided in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement. The Initial Securities, Additional Securities and Exchange Securities are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture.
To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other amounts payable by the Company under the Indenture and the Securities when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantors unconditionally guarantee, jointly and severally, such obligations on a senior basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.
(5) Optional and Mandatory Redemption
The Securities are subject to both optional and mandatory redemption, either as a whole or in some cases in part, at the times, under the circumstances and at the redemption prices described in Article Five of the Indenture.
(6) Repurchase Provisions
(a) Upon a Change of Control any Holder of Securities will have the right to cause the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Securities of such Holder at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.
B-4
(b) In the event of an Asset Disposition that requires the purchase of Securities pursuant to Section 3.7(b) of the Indenture, the Company will be required to apply such Excess Proceeds to the repayment of the Securities and any Pari Passu Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.7 of the Indenture.
(7) Denominations; Transfer; Exchange
The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of principal amount of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.
(8) Persons Deemed Owners
The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
(9) Amendment, Waiver
The Indenture or the Securities may be amended, and certain defaults may be waived, each as provided in the Indenture.
(10) Trustee Dealings with the Company
Subject to certain limitations set forth in the Indenture, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.
(11) No Recourse Against Others
An incorporator, director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, stockholder or controlling person, as such, of each of the Company, or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities, the Indenture or any Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
(12) Authentication
This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent acting on its behalf) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.
B-5
(13) Abbreviations
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Securityholder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian) and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
(14) CUSIP and ISIN Numbers
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
(15) Governing Law
This Security shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
(16) Additional Information
The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written request and without charge to the Securityholder a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:
Ship Finance International Limited
Par-la-Ville Place, 00 Xxx-xx-Xxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx: Chief Financial Officer
B-6
ASSIGNMENT FORM
|
|
To assign this Security, fill in the form below: |
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
I or we assign and transfer this Security to |
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code) |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.) |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
and irrevocably appoint agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him. |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Date: |
|
|
Your Signature: |
|
||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Signature Guarantee: |
|
|
||||||
|
(Signature must be guaranteed) |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
B-7
[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY
The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:
|
Date of |
|
Amount of |
|
Amount of |
|
Principal |
|
Signature
of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B-8
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 3.7 or 3.9 of the Indenture, check either box:
|
ý |
|
ý |
|
3.7 |
|
3.9 |
If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 3.7 or 3.9 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount (must be integral multiple of $1,000): $
|
Date: |
|
|
Your Signature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of the Security) |
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
Signature Guarantee: |
|
|
||||
|
|
(Signature must be guaranteed) |
|
||||
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
B-9
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
This Supplemental Indenture, dated as of (this “Supplemental Indenture”), among [name of future Subsidiary Guarantor] (the “Guarantor”), Ship Finance International Limited, a Bermuda exempted company, (together with its successors and assigns, the “Company”), each other then existing Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture referred to below, and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as Trustee under the Indenture referred to below.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of , 2003 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the initial issuance of an aggregate principal amount of $580,000,000 of 8½% Senior Notes due 2013 of the Company (the “Securities”);
WHEREAS, Section 3.12 of the Indenture provides that unless such Subsidiary has previously issued a Subsidiary Guarantee which is then in full force and effect, the Company is required to cause each Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired by the Company or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries to execute and deliver to the Trustee a Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis with the other Subsidiary Guarantors, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities on a senior basis; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Company and the other Subsidiary Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to amend the Indenture, without the consent of any Securityholder;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guarantor, the Company, the other Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
C-1
ARTICLE II
Agreement to be Bound; Subsidiary Guarantee
SECTION 2.1 Agreement to be Bound. The Guarantor hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and as such will have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture. The Guarantor agrees to be bound by all of the provisions of the Indenture applicable to a Subsidiary Guarantor and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture.
SECTION 2.2 Guarantee. The Guarantor hereby fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, jointly and severally with each other Subsidiary Guarantor, to each Holder of the Securities and the Trustee, the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of the Obligations pursuant to Article X of the Indenture on a senior basis.
ARTICLE III
Miscellaneous
SECTION 3.1 Notices. All notices and other communications to the Guarantor shall be given as provided in the Indenture to the Guarantor, at its address set forth below, with a copy to the Company as provided in the Indenture for notices to the Company.
SECTION 3.2 Parties. Nothing expressed or mentioned herein is intended or shall be construed to give any Person, firm or corporation, other than the Holders and the Trustee, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture or any provision herein or therein contained.
SECTION 3.3 Governing Law. This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 3.4 Severability Clause. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.
SECTION 3.5 Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby. The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
C-2
SECTION 3.6 Counterparts. The parties hereto may sign one or more copies of this Supplemental Indenture in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
SECTION 3.7 Headings. The headings of the Articles and the Sections in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the meaning or interpretation of any provisions hereof.
C-3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
|
|
[SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR], |
|
|
|
as a Subsidiary Guarantor |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
|
Name: |
|
|
|
Title: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
|
Name: |
|
|
|
Title: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
|
Name: |
|
|
|
Title: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[EXISTING SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
|
Name: |
|
|
|
Title:] |
C-4
